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Given the interaction history of a user with Wikipedia articles as follows:
Title: Nokia Networks; Description: multinational data networking and telecommunications equipment company
Title: regime; Description: form of government or the set of rules, cultural or social norms, etc. that regulate the operation of a government or institution and its interactions with society
Title: Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier; Description: pier
Title: Legio IX Hispana; Description: Roman legion
Title: Camulodunum; Description: Roman castrum where Colchester, England now stands
Title: Londinium; Description: settlement established on the current site of the City of London | wikirec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Underworld (2003); Genres: Action, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Pandorum (2009); Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Falling Down (1993); Genres: Action, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Goodfellas (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Titus Andronicus (1985); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Underworld: Evolution (2006); Genres: Action, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Underworld: Awakening (2012); Genres: Action, Fantasy, Horror, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Resident Evil (2002); Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Nemesis Game (2003); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Ring, The (2002); Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Mean Guns (1997); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The (Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il) (1966); Genres: Action, Adventure, Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Ju-on: The Grudge (2002); Genres: Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Silent Hill (2006); Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Ju-on: The Grudge 2 (2003); Genres: Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Waterworld (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The (Män som hatar kvinnor) (2009); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Nine to Five (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monk: Season 2 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bodyguard (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gremlins (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phenomenon (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Attraction (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 9 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A League of Their Own (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of Angels (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kindergarten Cop (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Greymouth Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park; City: Greymouth West Coast Region South Island; Review: To celebrate 36 years of marriage we decided to travel around New Zealand in a campervan: our first trip away together without the kids in 35 years. We stayed in a number of Top 10 Holiday parks but this one was probably the best in terms of facilities and location, on a par with the one on the lakeside at Te Anau. Nothing like watching the sun set onto the ocean while sipping a good NZ red. We felt the stress melt away. Great little pub serving excellent food just a short walk away as well. I'm sorry we couldn'y have stayed a little longer - maybe next time!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Travel Inn Hotel; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: After a long drive from Sydney all I wanted to do was check in and get settled. We had arrived early (about 2 p.m.) and the room wasn't ready yet. The young lady at the counter was most apologetic and assured us that the room would be ready by three. So my son and I decided to take a stroll down nearby Lygon Street. This motel is situated on the corner of Drummond and Grattan Streets. Drummond Street runs parallel with Lygon Street one block to the east. Grattan Street runs from the Exhibition Gardens down to Elizabeth Street. Three blocks down this street from the motel is Swanston Street and the trams or a short walk across the Gardens gets you to the Spring Street stop of the City Circle tram. Lygon Street itself is the heart of Melbourne's Italian community and, quite frankly, it leaves Sydney's Norton Street for dead. The atmosphere is more Italian and the restaurants are much better and far less pretentious. The whole street is just a gem so an hour spent looking in the shops went very quickly. Our room was very well appointed and spacious. The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom was very modern and clean. I could not fault it. My son, who is disabled, was very pleased. The staff was very affable, welcoming and helpful. I am told that the restaurant is very good but with all the wonderful eateries in Lygon Street so close we didn't try it. The location of the motel is a huge plus and whenever we go to Melbourne this is where we stay because I can leave the car at the motel and reach everything either on foot or by tram. The Queen Victoria markets are about a twenty minute stroll away and the CBD is easily accessible on foot. What's more the tariffs are extremely reasonable. The counter staff are there 24 hours a day so checking out was not a problem. As I had a long return drive to Sydney we checked out and paid the account at 5 a.m. Now, THAT'S service.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Meramie Motor Inn; City: Albury New South Wales; Review: I'd planned a short stay in Albury and picked the first Best Western I could find. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled up at the Meramie Motor Inn. A very welcoming place, sort of neo-Georgian, and fits in well with the colonial ambience of Albury. The room was most spacious and the kitchenette facilities were better then usual. There was plenty of tea and coffee. Usually you find a half-dozen or so teabags and sachets of instant coffee but there was a pleasing sufficiency of these. A nice electric jug and the taps in the bathroom were high enough to get the jug underneath for filling. There was also a selection of simple breakfasts thrown in for the price: some small packs of cereal, slices of bread and a selection of jams and spreads all included in the price. The shower was quite big, the water pressure was very good and there was no problem in getting the right temperature nor did I have to wait too long for the hot water to flow. The beds were very comfortable and the air-conditioning worked well and was very quiet. The laundry facilities were adequate and you only had to pay once for as many washes as you wished ($8). The managers of the motel were extremely helpful and pleasant and did everything they could to make our stay most agreeable. The inn's location near the centre of town made it easy to walk to the really good restaurants in Dean Street. The Commercial Club was also only about three blocks away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Historic Hydro Motor Inn; City: Leeton New South Wales; Review: I'd driven past this place a number of times in my travels and I had promised myself that one day I'd stay here. Taking my son on a short road trip through the Riverina, I decided to book in to the Historic Hydro. Walking through the front door into the lobby was an experience…; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Milan Speranza Au Lac; City: Stresa Lake Maggiore Piedmont; Review: Having used the BBC series 'Buongiorno Italia' for many years in my classes I was looking forward to actually seeing the people and places pictured in the videos. The Milan Speranza au Lac was, surprisingly, within my price range and I was pleasantly surprised to meet one of the people from the videos sitting behind the counter of the hotel. My room was up on the top floor but was airy and comfortable with views over the lake and the cafes and restaurants of the town. It stands on the main road, facing the lake and is a short walk from the station. It is conveniently located in the centre of town. The décor was charming and welcoming and the staff were all extremely helpful and pleasant. The bed was very comfortable and the shutters on the windows meant I could leave the windows open overnight for some fresh air. The bar service was excellent and not at all expensive. The restaurant looked very welcoming and the food smelt wonderful but it was full of a tour group so I didn't go in. Anyway, there are far too many good restaurants within easy reach so I preferred to try them. The shower and bathroom were very well-appointed and the water pressure was just right. I like my showers hot and strong!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avalon Hotel Paris Gare Du Nord; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: I found this hotel on the Internet because I wanted somewhere relatively cheap and not too far away from everything. This hotel is very close to the Gare du Nord which means that you don't have to lug your baggage too far and you have easy access to a wide range of restaurants and bars ( and, yes, there is a McDonalds - although why you'd want one with such a large selection of really good eateries beats me!) and there are many ATMs as well. When I arrived it was absolutely bucketting down but I didn't get too wet getting to the hotel. Checking in was quick and smooth and the reception clerk was very polite and accommodating. The room itself was quite small but well-appointed. It was adequate for my purposes: I hadn't come to Paris to sit in a hotel room all day! I found that it is located in the 10th Arrondissement, an area full of African and Middle-Eastern migrants which I found quite interesting but may be off-putting for others. It's also a short walk from Montmartre, Sacre-Couer and the Pigalle district (although I found that to be quite a tacky place). The hotel is also about a 3 km walk from Notre Dame. Public transport is excellent in Paris but I prefer to walk. The hotel is surprisingly quiet although there are no coffee or tea-making facilities in the room. The bed was very comfortable and the shower very strong and hot - just how I like it! The price I paid was very reasonable but I don't think I'd stay there with the new, higher prices - I think you may just get better value for money elsewhere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: B B La Passarelle Hooghe Crater; City: Ieper Ypres West Flanders Province; Review: I found this place on the Internet and didn't quite know what to expect. Marc and Sonia are two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. They couldn't do enough for you. The room itself was very spacious, light and airy. Everything I needed and a very comfortable bed. This B&B is very conveniently located for visits to Ypres, Tyne Cot cemetery, Hill 60, Hooghe Crater Museum and all the other WWI locations. Marc and Sonia know the area and are full of advice and tips about what to see, where to eat and how to get there. I can thoroughly recommend staying here to all - oh, and the breakfasts are pretty bloody good too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Helvetia; City: Pisa Province of Pisa Tuscany; Review: Literally a stone's throw from the Leaning Tower, the Helvetia is a small, unassuming pensione on the corner of via Don Gaetano Boschi and via Collegio Ricci which gives you the impression of being in a family home. The cat is quite friendly too. The room I had was very comfortable and the bathroom was a good size, well appointed with a fantastic shower. The concierge was so helpful in getting me a parking permit which enabled me to park almost right outside the front door - talk about service! She also gave me the heads-up on the best places to eat which is always a bonus. The bed was really good - the only hotel where I've overslept! Very reasonably priced, close to all the main attractions and some very good eateries on via Santa Maria which are easily reached by way of via Collegio Ricci. I can thoroughly recommend this place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Appart City Confort Montpellier Ovalie; City: Montpellier Herault Occitanie; Review: This place is a bit tricky to get to by car but once you've figured it out it's not that bad. The desk staff were really lovely and helpful and were quite complimentary about my French. This is a nice, clean and comfortable hotel about 3 km from the city centre. After a near 10-hour drive from Bayeux I was keen to get the old blood circulating and so took off for a nice stroll in the sunshine to the centre of Montpellier. Parking was not a problem at the hotel and there's a supermarket across the road of you don't fancy forking out for a restaurant. The cooking facilities in the room were a most welcome change from the other places I've stayed in. The bathroom was very well-appointed and the place was spotless. Nice spacious lifts and there's always someone at the front desk.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inter Hotel Panorama; City: Grasse French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: If you are into ultra-modern, swish hotels with all the bells and whistles, mod-cons, Wi-Fi, revolving spa baths in your expensive top floor penthouse with hot and cold running girls then this is definitely NOT for you. If, however, you just want a cheap, conveniently located place to dump your baggage, freshen up and get a good night's rest then you probably couldn't do better than this. The man at the desk even put a witch's hat out the front to keep me a parking spot. He was very helpful and accommodating, suggesting places to visit and where to eat. It was he who suggested I look around the old part of town which is where I found Le Petit Caboulot. Checking out very early was no problem as, he said, there's always someone around. Olde worlde charm is does not have even though some of the furniture has seen better days but you can't beat the location. Next time I might even ask for a room with a view!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Premiere Classe Bayeux; City: Bayeux Calvados Basse Normandie Normandy; Review: Hotels are, for me, just a place to park my bags and bunk down for the night: I'm long past youth hostels and sleeping rough. I'm not into luxury hotels because I don't plan on being in it for long. So this hotel was right up my alley. It's pretty basic and there are no tea or coffee-making facilities ( I think we're a bit spoiled in Australia as even the cheapest, grottiest motel has tea and coffee-making facilities.) The bed was comfortable enough and I was able to sleep well after foot-slogging around Bayeux and environs all day. It's an easy, short stroll to the town, the museum and the cemetery, I wasn't too sure about the automated check-in and check-out: I much prefer dealing with a human being so I'll be giving these establishments a wide berth in future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ilgo Hotel; City: Perugia Province of Perugia Umbria; Review: I was last here in Perugia in 1989 on a scholarship to the University for Foreigners. I had spent four weeks at the ILGO and had found it quite adequate for my purposes so when I planned to spend a couple of nights in Perugia I decided to book again. It's a nice stroll to the city even if there are a few stairs but this must be the only place I've ever been where I've eaten as much as I wanted and actually lost weight. My room, on the fifth floor was comfortable and quiet. The bathroom was very nice and the shower excellent - mind you I was showering at 6 a.m. Since my last visit, quite a lot has been done and the desk clerk had been a waiter when I was last at the hotel. We shared a few memories and he was able to tell me about what had happened in the intervening 25 years. It was like coming home! All the staff were very helpful and a real pleasure to chat to and it was they who alerted me to Joyce's Irish Pub. I've always found that speaking the language gets you much better service.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nouvata; City: Noumea Grand Terre; Review: Taking Year 9 and Year 10 students overseas is always fraught. When our tour organizer told us we'd been upgraded from Le Pacifique to Le Parc, we were pleasantly surprised. Our group of 15 students and five teachers arrived at about 5:30 p.m. and the reception was excellent. The students were issued their entry cards ( even if some of the names were wrong) and we were all soon getting settled in. All of us were on the third floor. My room (2317) was huge: quite the biggest room I've ever stayed in, with a big bathroom containing a massive bathtub and very luxurious fittings. The room's balcony was very large and looked out over the pool and gardens with glimpses of the beach. A couple of the students' rooms had views out over the beach to Isle des Canards and beyond. Top floor rooms must have fantastic views over the lagoon. I found the counter staff extremely friendly and co-operative. The bed was very comfortable and the room lacked for nothing (except, maybe, for a few more power points). The storeroom was very large and well-equipped. The tea and coffee facilities were fine, except for having to plug in the electric kettle in the bathroom. The cleaning staff were extremely efficient and friendly - they don't get paid enough as far as I'm concerned. The room was always spotless and towels replaced even if I didn't put them in the tub. The breakfast buffet was enormous, plentiful and delicious which pleased our students no end. A full range of cereals, fruit and other titbits. The hot food was very nice even thought the scrambled eggs were occasionally underdone ( but that just might be the way they like them in Noumea). All in all this is a hotel I'd recommend most highly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Berrima Bakehouse Motel; City: Berrima Southern Highlands New South Wales; Review: Comfy, good-sized room on the lower level looking out over a grassed area to the river. Good coffee and tea facilities. Parking spaces clearly marked. Good reception, very efficient and no fuss. This motel is located right in the middle of the village so you're a short walk from everything, especially the Surveyor-General! The Echalot Restaurant is also nearby, but that's a bit dear - no mains under $30. There's no room service as there's no need really, you have a good selection of good eateries close by.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ensenada Motor Inn and Suites; City: Glenelg Greater Adelaide South Australia; Review: We stayed in one of the apartments - on the third floor facing the Adelaide Hills. The place was unlike anything I've ever stayed in. It had a large kitchen/dining/lounge room with a t.v and balcony. a large double bedroom with ensuite and t.v, a bedroom with two single beds and a very big bathroom with both shower and separate bath AND a washing machine. Air-conditioned, very roomy and very well appointed, it was very comfortable. The kitchen had everything you need. The Coles supermarket - great for supplies - is only five minutes away. The reception lady was most helpful. I was a bit dubious about all the electronic gizmos. The under-building car park took a bit of getting used to but once I'd got the hang of things it wasn't too bad. I still prefer keys, though. The location is great: a short walk to Glenelg tram stop ( about 30 minutes to Adelaide city centre) and the beach as well as a great selection of places to eat. I thought that $1600 for the 3 of us for 4 nights during peak season was quite reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lake Jindabyne Hotel; City: Jindabyne New South Wales; Review: Despite the somewhat dated and frugal décor, the room, with its view over the lake was extremely comfortable and cosy. All you need is there, apart from a telephone (not everyone has a mobile!). The room I was in, Room 31, was on the top floor and furthest away from the hotel itself, which means I wasn't disturbed by the noise of the late-night revellers in the pub. It was also great for parking the old bus in the large space at the side of the building. An easy walk to Jindabyne town centre and shops as well as the lakeside walk itself.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Surveyor General Inn; City: Berrima Southern Highlands New South Wales; Review: The range of beers on tap is o.k. and the atmosphere is quite affable. The open fireplace makes the whole place quite welcoming. The Bushranger Bistro has a good range of food. The gnocchi my son had were very tasty, if somewhat unconventional. I have to admit that my steak was delicious - perfectly cooked and the side salad was very tasty. The meal was quite filling so we were not able to sample any of the desserts. The last time we were here the desserts were excellent so it was a bit of a disappointment not to be able to indulge ourselves this time around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Meriton Suites Kent Street Sydney; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: The service apartments are pretty comfortable, with all necessary appliances and a well stocked kitchen. Ours was high up and had a great view as well! Recommended, esp for long stays in the city. Connectivity with public transport is pretty good as well. However, the heating of the pool was not working and it was pretty cold in Sydney around that time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The LaLiT Golf Spa Resort Goa; City: Canacona South Goa District Goa; Review: The property is beautiful, the greens and the beach right in front of it. However- rooms are a little outdated..IMO for the price, they need to refurbish them. We went in the beginning of the tourist season (1st week of dec) and the corridors were being painted. Was strange since this should be done before the tourist season really starts. However, the breakfast was nice. The staff also helped me arrange a cake for my husband and didnot charge us for that! :) there are a few good local cafes right out side the main gate. The Rajbagh beach is nice and secluded. All in all - a good stay!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Club Med Kani; City: Kanifinolhu Island; Review: Had a great 06 days vacation at Club Med Kani! Love the fact that they have an evening entertainment stint, so you can party if you want to - or just relax by the beach. The room was alright and food was good. The service overall was pretty decent as well. Had an amazing time doing snorkeling (we took the private tour with a trip to the Coke island which wasnt included in the package)..views of the sandbank etc were great. Parasailing was fun as well (this was included). Would like to visit another Club Med soon!! One thing though - it seemed like the alcohol was diluted :/ - I guess its one of the perlis of an "all inclusive scheme". Traveled Dec 2014.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam South; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: This is small business hotel about 20 min away from Dam square by tram. Tram 5 connects the hotel with all imp points in the city right uptil the Central station - so location wise the place is fine. The room was small but cosy. Bathroom was modern in its interiors. The breakfast was very basic. While the hotel does not have a functional restaurants, it does have a small bar. No mini bar in the room though. All in all - a decent place, but may not be preferred by tourists.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Retreat Bhimtal; City: Bhimtal Nainital District Uttarakhand; Review: The location of the property is one of the factors which would set it apart. Far from the maddening crowd, yet a ten minute drive to the main Bhimtal market. The house itself is about 60/70 years old and the interiors (or even the exteriors) have not been refurbished. There is a charming sit out area - and a whole lot of dogs living on the property to give you company! There are a few really nice trails / walks around the place which can keep one occupied for atleast a couple of days. The breakfast served (and cooked) by Padmini & her kids was yummy! The dinner however could have been better - the omelette set very high expectations for us! The retreat is also pet friendly. All in all - we had a good stay / experience and Padmini was a very kind host. Do not forget to carry some insect / mosquito repellent!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MANATHAI Khao Lak; City: Khao Lak Phang Nga Province; Review: My husband and I spent about 4 nights at this resort..and we loved our stay! The resort is not too big and cosy. The beach was amazing..soft sand and uninterrupted views of the sea. Perfect for swimming or just lazing around. The breakfast was the basic spread..loved the scrambled eggs that the chef prepare(with extra chillies - lol). We didn't try the food at any of the restaurants - but the drinks were decently priced. We are thrice at a nearby beach shak called Be Friend. The service and food there was incredible! And they also did take aways. It was my birthday and we had requested for the Special Romantic dinner that was on offer - and it was absolutely splendid. We went for the vegitarian menu and the five course spread was lip smacking and very unique. Since I like fish, we had requested them to provide fish in main course for me - and they did! The setting and the candles were absolutely jaw dropping - esp since we chose to start at 6:30 pm and the sun was setting..so the sky lit up and was so beautiful (attaching some pictures). It was worth every penny and definitely was a highlight of our trip!! They also left a cake in our room upon my husbands request. Over all we loved Manathai and khao Lak and can't wait to be back!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vivaana; City: Mandawa Jhunjhunu District Rajasthan; Review: My husband and I spent two nights at Vivaana and were pretty impressed by the property and the service. This is an old old haveli which has been refurbished and converted into a hotel. From what we found out - it took almost 5 years to convert the whole place. The haveli itself is located in a small village called Churi Ajitgarh enroute Mandawa. You can see plenty of peacocks frolicking around and can even take a tour of the village on cycles provided by the hotel. We took the most basic room and it was really nicely done from the inside. The bathrooms were really clean and neatly done with all amenities. There are many personal and traditional touches to the property and I absolutely loved the decor / interiors of the entire haveli. The breakfast spread was decent..the basic that most hotels offer. The Dinner was good with both indian and continental options. My husband tried out the spa and he thought it was pretty decent. All in all we really liked the place. It would be ideal for a small intimate wedding :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bunk Stay Rishikesh; City: Rishikesh Dehradun District Uttarakhand; Review: The location of this hostel and the views from here are really nice. One can spend the mornings just gazing at the Ganga. I stayed in an AC mixed dorm for 06 people and the room was decent. The bathroom, however, was not. Was here for over 24 hours and not once did someone from housekeeping clean it. It was in fact the biggest put-off about the whole place, and otherwise a rather nice experience. The food served at the rooftop cafe was super yum! The open mic during the evening was really good too. Well suited for a solo traveler, backpackers and small groups. All in all - value for money [sans the bathrooms!!].; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Chandigarh Panchkula; City: Panchkula Panchkula District Haryana; Review: This is a standard business hotel meeting all basic and essential requirements for any type of traveller. It is located literally at the end of Panchkula, therefore, the view from our hotel room was amazing. The Panchkula golf course lined by hills as a backdrop. We stayed here for one night and were satisfied. The breakfast spread was pretty extensive and the food quality also did not disappoint us. The rooms were good - clean with all essentials in place. Would definitely come back again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Obama's America: Unmaking the American Dream; Author: Visit Amazon's Dinesh D'Souza Page; Review: This book, which parallels the movie "2016," should be read before anyone goes into the voting booth on November 6. The book really puts the last 3 1/2 years of Obama's presidency into focus. It gives an entirely different slant on Obama's term as president than what has been fed to us by either the main stream media or the administration. The book is a must read by all, especially those who are suffering in the current recession.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Believe: My Faith and the Tackle That Changed My Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric LeGrand Page; Review: This is a heartwarming story of someone, who faced with an extreme difficulties, just won't give up. The story tells of his thoughts and feelings after the accident. He relates the story of those around him, their continual support even two years later. His football Coach at Rutgers who also stayed with him and to this day is still in contact with Eric. Eric also has shown great compassion for those faced with similar problems and continues to work hard so that he may someday walk again. He explains that to him this was a message from God that he has greater things for him to do than to play football. He truly BELIEVEs that his work is not done. Even when he had so many supporters at the hospital, and others had none, he shared is friends with who had few. This is truly an inspiring story of a young man faced with grave problems has triumphed over them personally. My prayers are with you Eric.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Then and Now Bible Maps: Compare Bible Times with Modern Day; Author: Visit Amazon's Rose Publishing Page; Review: This is an excellent reference for finding places mentioned in the Bible as well as their modern day names or of cities near by.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics [Deckled Edge]; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Krauthammer Page; Review: It is quite regressing to see how accurate Charles was in his comments long before they became history. He is spot on when commenting on current events and what the consequences might be. This is a must read as we move dealer into the 21st. Century.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Kilmeade Page; Review: This book was a real eye opener. We were never taught about this part of the Revolutionary War. I always assumed that the spying was accidental, someone saw or heard something and reported it the army, never as an organized ring out there actively looking for information. It was interesting that they had an organized ring and had regular reports. They are truly heroes of the war, they never really wanted any recognition for their work. Like most true heroes they want to fade in to history after their work was done. Maybe as a result of this work more can be learned of agent 355. I'm sure there are many similar stories that are lying dormant only waiting to be uncovered. Bring them on!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ancient Blood: A Navajo Nation Mystery (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's R. Allen Chappell Page; Review: This was a great part three. Hope there are more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Not an Accident: A Memoir of Reinvention; Author: Visit Amazon's Jay Williams Page; Review: Honest confession of the NBA; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History and Future; Author: Visit Amazon's Newt Gingrich Page; Review: Very interesting. It will put a different spin the next time I visit Washington to see if I can find the quotes noted in the book. Excellent history behind each of the monuments mentioned in the book. But what else would you expect from a individual with such knowledge of both History and Washington, DC. Great job from both of you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America; Author: Visit Amazon's Donald J. Trump Page; Review: Donald explains why he has taken the stance that he as when it comes to today's national problems. It not just ranting and raving, like the media wants you to believe. There is really a basis for his positions and if they are not addressed quickly America will not be the same country that I grew up in. It seems that getting something that you haven't worked for will be the norm of the future. The laws of this once great country mean nothing to politically elite. Come up with any kind of excuse and it's okay. Where have we gone so wrong?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pen Turner's Bible: The Art of Creating Custom Pens; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Kleinhenz Page; Review: It's for pen turners who want to take the next step in pen making. Save all of your leftovers. He gives many suggesting and ideas for all of the cut offs that you can't bare to part with. Some suggestion of how to fix the slip-ups. Can't wait to get to the shop to try some of these designs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Schweizer Page; Review: This book was well researched as could be noted by the many footnotes and references. If only one tenth of one precent of what was presented is true, these two should spend the rest of their time on earth in jail. And not a country club in Connecticut! They and their cronies are the Al Capones of the Twenty First century. It is amazing how the Clintons have gotten away with so much corruption for all the years they have been in Public Service(I use that phrase loosely). This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand why nothing ever gets accomplished in Washington. rather than doing the jobs that they were either elected or appointed to do spend their time lining their pockets, while we pay them with our tax dollars. But as usual, there will be no prosecution in Washington for the political elite, either Republican or Democrat. Our Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves. Oh, if we could only harness the energy of that spinning, we would solve the problem of global warming.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary,; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary J. Byrne Page; Review: The book was very interesting and a good refresher of the last time that the Clinton's were in the White House. This duo seems to always want to make their own rules. I can't understand why they are locked away in prison for all that they have done. That many "events" just don't happen with out someone breaking the law. This book also goes in to depth all the things that the uniformed secret service men do and have to go through to keep our President and our country safe. They are unsung heroes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Dolphin Marina Cottages; City: Little Torch Key Lower Keys Florida Keys Florida; Review: I stayed at the dolphin marina for three days with my boyfriend. The location was great, just off route 1 but not in a tacky tourist district. It was minutes away from big pine key and bahia honda key where we walked on nature trails, saw key deer, went to the beach and rented bikes. The staff was fantastic! They were helpful and Jennifer gave us great advice. The cottage (reef 4) was simple and clean however the beds were uncomfortable. We liked having the efficiency kitchen and made our own breakfasts and bagged lunches. Little Torch Key is close to Key West for a day trip but you don't have to worry about the heavy traffic. I would definitely suggest renting a car so you can easily get around to the sights. Our biggest problem with the place was the uncomfortable beds and the non-lighted sign. We came in at night and couldn't find the place in the dark, there was no big lighted sign! We almost kept driving south, but turned around a few times and eventually figured out where we were.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Stamford New York City Area; City: Stamford Connecticut; Review: Nice staff, good coffee and great bagels for a super 8. Stayed with a friends when we went to see a taping of the Maury show. The lobby reeked of cigarettes. The shower was a little weird, I thought we did not have hot water, but I had to put the knob on the C for hot water. The front desk attendants were very nice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bucaneros Hotel Suites; City: Isla Mujeres Yucatan Peninsula; Review: My husband and I stayed 6 nights at Bucaneros last month. We thought the hotel was a great value and is at a central location. We had a room with a balcony. Av. Hidalgo comes to life at night, we enjoyed drinking beers and people watching from our room. The. continental breakfast was basic but good. Make sure you ask to have your room cleaned, they will not do it automatically. The hotel was just a 10 minute walk to Playa Norte where you can do some great off shore snorkeling at the Avalon Reef. We brought a sleeping sound machine with us because other reviews said that the hotel picks up a lot of street noise, we were glad we did!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Constitution Inn; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: You have to know what you are getting into with this hotel! It is very basic. We just stayed for the weekend. We went to see a concert at TD garden. The hotel staff was friendly and helpful! The elevator to the 6th floor was SLOW, we stayed in room 612. The room was odd but comfortable. We had a skylight instead of a regular window.The toilet was also kind of loose from the wall. I absolutely loved the location, the Navy Yard was a really nice area! We caught the ferry taxi to the aquarium and also went to the constitution museum the day of the concert which were both easy walks from the hotel. There are no restaurants or stores in the immediate area but there was a small cafe at about a 7 minute walk where we ate breakfast. It was an easy 20 minute walk back to the hotel from the Garden after the concert. Comparative in price to other area hotels this was definitely worth it. We will definitely stay at the Constitution Inn if we go to another concert at the Garden!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Sacramento Downtown; City: Sacramento California; Review: This was a comfortable clean hotel. Our biggest complaints were that the fan in the bathroom in 344 made a terrible rattling noises, also our AC didn't work that great. The bed was VERY comfortable, the most comfortable hotel bed I have ever slept in! The breakfast was alright, the coffee was terrible we could not even drink it. I did like the pool and enjoyed a quick swim, the front desk gave us extra towels. For some reason our room was not cleaned once during our stay but thats not a big deal. We found the front desk staff to be very friendly. Overall we would definitely recommend this hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Venus Hotel; City: Pamukkale; Review: Nice little hotel, friendly and helpful staff. Free shuttle up to Hireopolis park. The restaurant was good. Clean pools and grounds. Friendly dog. There are also some linens for sale in the lobby. FYI Pamukkale does not have good souvenirs, make sure to buy your souvenirs in Istanbul!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Frog Inn; City: El Valle de Anton Cocle Province; Review: Beautiful hotel, helpful staff. The hotel is absolute paradise. It is a little out of the way from the center of town but is a nice walk through a beautiful residential neighborhood. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. We were in room four which was very basic but the bed was extremely comfortable. The only thing I would have liked in our room was hook or second towel rack in our bathroom, another shelf in the bathroom to put stuff on, and a small table in the living room area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Two; Author: Visit Amazon's George R. R. Martin Page; Review: love the show, love the books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Storm of Swords (HBO Tie-in Edition): A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three; Author: Visit Amazon's George R. R. Martin Page; Review: I loved the HBO show so much that in between seasons I needed my Game of Thrones fix, so I started reading the books. Now I haven't been able to put them down, because they are so good! I haven't been this into something since Harry Potter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Feast for Crows (Song of Ice and Fire); Author: Visit Amazon's George R.R. Martin Page; Review: I love Game of Thrones!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Feast for Crows; Author: Visit Amazon's George R. R. Martin Page; Review: I love Game of Thrones!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dance with Dragons; Author: Visit Amazon's George R.R. Martin Page; Review: I love the Game of Thrones stories. I don't know what to do with myself while waiting for the next book to come out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Selkirk Arms Hotel; City: Kirkcudbright Dumfries and Galloway Scotland; Review: We called in for food only one Tuesday at about 5.15pm. The lady on reception explained the chef wouldn't be ready until about 5.45pm that night but promptly showed us where we would be able to eat (choice of two bar areas - restaurant wasn't going to be open initially) and also presented us with a children's menu so we could ponder as we said we'd go for a wander and come back. So far so good we thought. Anyway when we returned the same lady spotted us and greeted us and off we went. Found a lovely table in the corner for us three and the atmosphere was warm and friendly and everything very clean. So menus provided, choices made and as our 6 year old was as ever starving they brought her meal first as we requested - and they made a fuss of her with pictures to colour for the competition etc too. Ours then arrived beautifully presented and my duo of Galloway beef was really amazing - the flavour was amongst the best beef I can ever recall (may even tend towards the best) and cooked to perfection and melting in the mouth (if you know what I mean). The vegetables were cooked perfectly too - the good lady had Salmon en croute (the best she's had) with perfect veg too. Little one had fish and chips (a phase she's going through) and that was yummy too. Desserts - Selkirk mess (a yummy messy pile according to the good lady) and I had to have the cheese and biscuits as it was Loch Arthur cheese on offer (if you've never had their cheese it is a must and a good cause too). Both were superb and little one had vanilla ice cream (straight - they offered all sorts with it but no she wanted it straight). So what else made it special? Well as you can see the food was perfect, but what made it was really the staff. What a happy family they all were with everyone mucking in and getting the job done and every time with a smile and so pleasant. I can't remember their names (wouldn't have minded a phone number off one!) but they were just brilliant. There are very few places I have been where all muck in like that as a real team and certainly all were attentive and made a fuss of our daughter and indeed us... they had time for you no matter that they were very busy even for a Tuesday night - most of whom seemed to be regulars, a true commendation! Well done all, thank you and we'll be back...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Bristol Alveston Hotel; City: Alveston Gloucestershire England; Review: Premier Inn - The site is somewhat of a blast from the past, but I was lucky to be in a newly refurbished room. The painters were in doing some more and you could smell the paint and freshness - however I didn't hear a peep out of them. The room was clean and tidy but probably the smallest Premier Inn room and bathroom I have stayed in. The staff were fine and I would consider going again, but... The Ship Inn however was not busy on a Monday night and service was ok, but the food definitely nothing to write home about. I was just another punter, and for the price it didn't rate at all. Thyme restaurants at Premier Inn are much better quality and similar price. Sorry, but it had no atmosphere at the Ship Inn and only one member of staff really wanted to speak in a way that felt more genuine. Breakfast was similar, no feeling nor passion from the staff. Find somewhere else to eat for evening meals - breakfast is ok, and was better the second morning.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn London Bank Tower Hotel; City: London England; Review: This is our preferred family destination when staying in London - fab staff, spotless and welcoming. They are so helpful, much appreciated when you have a child with you. A great atmosphere at meal times so breakfast is a must here! All good, and plenty to have from the buffet! Sets you up for the day. We have found that the Thyme restaurant is wonderful for food and a lovely atmosphere, certainly handy at a weekend where everywhere is packed and you just want to chill and fill of an evening when heading out. Now we have found this out we head straight to the hotel about tea time, book in, dump the cases, eat and hit the city. Buses are great from here and I would recommend the bus from Liverpool Street and vice versa rather than the tube. Tower of London just down the road and Greenwich just over the river, plenty to do... Love it!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Hotel; City: Bury St Edmunds Suffolk East Anglia Engl; Review: We visited for just one night and were impressed with the location as a short walk from the cathedral and abbey grounds. Just a short walk on again and you are in the town centre. Staff were friendly and efficient as with most we have visited. Rooms were clean and everything as expected and despite being fully booked (apparently) it was very quiet inside and out. Breakfast - it has to be done at a Premier Inn - was very nice. As it is a small restaurant - apparently they were limited as to how big they could make it because of planning rules - in some ways it works well as the buffet style breakfast is always being replenished with fresh produce (talking cooked items here). One of the best breakfasts I've had at at Premier Inn. That said I did feel that the restaurant was a bit warm for me - but no one else in our party commented on this so it may have just been me. All the normal items are there too and as always very fresh. When we returned to the hotel at night we asked for a pot of tea and even that was no trouble and we ended up with three pots! Cracking service... Another visit booked already!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Oak Hotel; City: Helmsley North Yorkshire England; Review: We popped in and reserved a table and received a warm welcome and certainly throughout the later meal staff were fine and friendly. A good selection of food on the menu but perhaps that is the failing, there is too much in a way meaning there is a lot of reheating and ready made bought food. I had burgers which were fine but not hugely flavoursome but with jalapeños and Stilton made up for it, but the daughter's pizza was ok although she said it wasn't that nice (I tried it and thought it was ok) but wife's lasagne was rather dry. Real Chips were rather black and soggy, not what I was expecting. The beer was in good shape mind. Have gone for middle of the road score as felt the interior was a bit tired and rather warm - luckily we got table three in the window in the ding in room so it had a bit of a breeze but also cigarette smoke occasionally coming in from outside - smokers on their seats outside...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Bristol East Emersons Green Hotel; City: Emersons Green Gloucestershire England; Review: Admittedly, this is a large Premier Inn and it was busy with Badminton Horse Trials on. However, I was luckily given one of the new rooms and what a difference. The normal levels of cleanliness but very fresh too, and having a proper shower rather than over a bath was much better. A great layout too and nicer furniture. Parking was easy and it's a handy location, so can't fault it. It is a small reception area, very small actually, but staff as always very good, Breakfast in the Beefeater adjoining the hotel was less than perfect as they go, but for the price it was ok. Food could have been warmer and heck knows what they had done to the hot water in the flasks for tea - it was rank with my tea tasting rather earthy (perhaps it was from the well). I ended up with water instead... Still, the meal I had the night before was pretty good and the lady that served me was spot on, helpful, attentive and friendly. Given how busy they were she was brilliant and had time for everyone - I hope I am allowed to say that her name was Liz and I even told the manager how good she was as I saw someone else complain about something and how she dealt with it was real customer care! If breakfast was at the same level it would have been perfect all round.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Taunton Central North Hotel; City: Taunton Somerset England; Review: A very decent Premier Inn with windows that open for that nice fresh air. Whilst the decor was a bit tired - part refresh in the bathroom with acrylic panel on one wall - the bed was very comfy and the location was lovely and quiet! Clean room despite its decor, and it was a good sized room too. Staff were friendly on arrival and enjoyed my bit of banter. Brewer's Fayre next door good for breakfast and evening meal not bad.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Kings Langley Hotel; City: Kings Langley Hertfordshire England; Review: Having been booked in here and experienced the over priced dinner next door, i was also disappointed with the Premier Inn in terms of room - it was small and the bed was not super king size and felt very tired - as was i the next morning. I will say the room was clean although i didn't like the small room. So, i thought i'd be in for a nice Premier Inn breakfast, but this one is provided within the Premier Inn in a small room with a few tables, very odd idea. So, everything was buffet style for breakfast and credit to the cook there were no fried eggs going to rubber under the heat lamps so i ordered two and went for some juice and pancakes. Oh my word, the Scotch pancakes must have rolled from Scotland over the last week as they were rubbery!! Yuk... I then had a choice of somewhat pale bacon - all of 4 slices left, the scrambled eggs had a crust on and the rest of the items also looked a little tired. After tiny portions in the M&C next door, neither was i going to get a fill on this. If they are going to run it like this and experience quiet times - 8am was very quiet - I would rather see everything cooked fresh. I would also like to see the continental bits wrapped so they don't dry out etc.. Much room for improvement here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Best Western Pacific Highway Inn; City: Salem Oregon; Review: I telephoned the Best Western Motel Pacific Highway Inn, Salem OR and requested a room for 2 persons non-smoking for the following day. Also, I requested a King Size bed if available & on the 1st floor. At the time of my request there were only 2 Queen Size non-smoking bed rooms available. Upon our arrival the agent checked and rechecked room reservations to see if she could accomodate our request. There was a King Size Bed room available, but it was next to a very loud family & she did not recommend the room. We chose a 2 Queen Size bed room that was in a quiet area & were quite satisfied with our accomodations. We travel South from Seattle, Washington in the early Spring to California and will more than likely stop at this Best Western, again. The rooms were clean & the breakfast was quite satisfying.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Pendleton; City: Pendleton Oregon; Review: We had a very nice experience with our stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Pendleyon, OR. The Staff was very nice during check-in and when we checked out. The room and bathroom were exceptionally clean. The beds were very pleasant to sleep in and the two firmness (firm, soft) pillows were very nice. The breakfast was very good. During our breakfast my wife and I were discussing where to find an auto parts store to purchase windsheild wiper blades. The Staff person in charge of the breakfast came to our rescue and gave us directions to 3 or 4 stores in the area. She got a map on which she marked their locations. What a nice stay and we will stop here in the future during our trips through Pendleton. The Inn location is very convenient to Interstate 84. Because of our experience we will look for other Holiday Express Inns during our driving trips.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Garden Inn; City: Santa Rosa Sonoma County California; Review: This hotel is very well situated for visiting Santa Rosa. It is a lovely hotel overall except for the smokey smelling room. If we get this type of room in the future we will move to another hotel because the odor was so intense.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus North Odessa Inn Suites; City: Odessa Texas; Review: We drove from Phoenix to Ft Worth. Because of the distance we decided to stay in Odessa, TX. In reviewing properties in the area we spotted Best Western Plus North Odessa. The distance made us look forward to a nice stay in a nice facility. Even though the Hotel is distant from the Freeway the facility with its amenities of breakfast and internet made our stay worth while. The manager was available when we were ready to check out and he explained the facility was 6 years old. It looked new to us. Despite the time it took to drive from/to the freeway the facility, pleasant & friendly staff, & amenities available we will surely stay in this facility again when we are in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sands of Kahana; City: Lahaina Maui Hawaii; Review: We are owners at the Sands of Kahana Resort. Every other year we visit this facility We look forward to our pleasant and relaxing stay at the Sands. The staff is friendly and informative, and the units are very clean, and like the newly renovated units.The only drwback is there is not sufficient lighting in the living area for a person to read to read at night.There is a nice restaurant with a good menu on the property. The pool is warm and enjoyable for a swim following a dip in the ocean and shower.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Thundersnow: In the Shadow of the Cedar, Book One; Author: Visit Amazon's Sheila Hollinghead Page; Review: Highly recommend this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clothed in Thunder: In the Shadow of the Cedar, Book 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Sheila Hollinghead Page; Review: Wonderful book. Just like first one. Am starting on third one now; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Texas Legacy Christmas (Texas Legacy Series #4); Author: Visit Amazon's DiAnn Mills Page; Review: Great book. Very well written and holds interest from first page to the end; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Moment In Time: The Train Part Two - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Keith Schafer Page; Review: Book was captivating. Could not put it down. Hope there is a sequel to this one also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sarah's Patchwork (Keepsake Legacy Series, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Grace Whitson Page; Review: In her tradition of excellence in writing, this book is no exception. Very enjoyable read. ecommend to all who enjoy a good book that can't be put down for very long. Can't wait to read Book 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Endust for Electronics 8oz Anti-Static Screen and Electronics Cleaner; Brand: Endust; Review: This is the only product I have used that does not smear my laptop or TV screens when I use it. I will order more of this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DirecTV RC64 Universal Remote Control (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: One For All; Review: Just what we needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Logitech S150 USB Speakers with Digital Sound; Brand: Logitech; Review: Wonderful speakers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ELEMENT 19 inches 720p LED TV ELEFW195 (2015) (Certified Refurbished); Brand: Element; Review: Just what we thought it would be. Great small TV.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mount-It! MI-4211 TV Ceiling Mount Kitchen Under Cabinet TV Bracket Folding, Retractable, 90 Degree Tilt, Fold; Brand: Mount-It!; Review: Great product. Very sturdy and easy to install.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Apollo Inn; City: Chesterfield Derbyshire England; Review: My partner and I booked a two night break here, whilst visiting relatives. When we arrived, we were shown upstairs by the bar tender. He seemed friendly and helpful enough. He pointed to the communal toilet and bathroom and showed us to our room. The bedroom was moderately clean, the window was cracked, the wardrobe had no clothes hangers, but there was a bin bag full of old clothing and shoes in there. On crossing the hall, we were met with two other residents, with filthy mouths, and somebody having a pee in the toilet with the door open. My partner escorted me to the bathroom, where I wanted to shower, and I felt sick. The shower curtain was full of mould, the bath was filthy, with pieces of wet soap and hair in the plughole. The tiles were dirty, and there was a loft hatch with no cover right above the bath. I couldn't bring myself to use it, and we instantly handed the keys back and booked a room at the Premier Inn. The barman didn't appear surprised, nor did he ask us what the problem was. If you don't mind sharing your filth you'll love it. Other than that, if you do enjoy getting a shower, try somewhere else.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Nottingham North West Hucknall Hotel; City: Hucknall Nottinghamshire England; Review: We booked this room at a half hour's notice, after finding the B&B we had originally booked was disgusting. When we arrived, the parking was ample, the receptionist was very friendly and directed us to our room. We were advised that if we don't have a good night's sleep, we don't pay! Our room was clean, airy, modern, tidy and comfortable. There were tea and coffee making facilities, clean towels, lovely shower / bath in a well-lit bathroom. Even the barman from the pub in the grounds lent us a couple of glasses so we could have a drink in our room (we brought champagne with us). We were very impressed, and will definitely use Premier Inn again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stonecross Manor Hotel; City: Kendal Lake District Cumbria England; Review: We stayed here for one night, as a last minute break. The hotel room was superb. We stayed in the king-size four poster bedroom, and were not disappointed. The room was tasteful, clean and had everything we needed. The view from the room was nice, colour tv, facilities to make hot drinks, clean bathroom with shower / bath, plenty of towels. Staff couldn't do more, they were very attentive. In fact, we asked to borrow two champagne glasses for our room and they gave us a bucket of ice to go with them! Food in the restaurant was first class and very reasonably priced. Served with a smile :-) We would recommend this hotel to anyone, and will most certainly be staying here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suites Hotel Spa Knowsley; City: Knowsley Merseyside England; Review: Wow. We were married here in August 2014 and were blown away by how amazing it was. From the day we turned up asking about booking it, we were impressed by how helpful the staff were. Jilly (Events) kindly spent some time showing us around the hotel and explained how we could tailor the day to suit us. We checked in the day before (there were one or two issues with the rooms not quite being ready but it wasn't a big deal). Our rooms were clean and fresh and had everything we needed. Our wedding MC, Chris, introduced himself the night before and we had a friendly chat about how things would all be ok and we'd be looked after. On the day, Chris really took care of me and I cannot praise him and all the staff enough for their efforrts that day. From making us laugh, wiping tears, calming nerves, fixing dresses, hugs, smiles and organising nothing seemed too much trouble. Our meal was delicious. Served professionally, and Chris made sure all the waiting staff served our meals at the same time!! Everything went so smoothly. The evening was outstanding. I was even asked to inspect the buffet before it was opened. These little details are what sets the Suites out from the rest. My new husband and I had booked the Lindon Suite for the evening, which is just amazing, but unfortunately, didn't get much use from it as we were leaving for our honeymoon at 3am!! The night staff had kindly prepared a packed lunch breakfast for us to take to the airport. I cannot thank the staff at the Suites enough for all their kindness, professionalism and attention to detail in making our wedding day so special. I would 100% recommend you take a look here if you're looking for a venue. It's in a great location for motorway access, for Liverpool and Manchester. The one negative point is that they don't have huge grounds for your photos. They do have a small pergola-type area but most of the photos will be close to the entrance or inside, but there are some nice places for snaps inside!! We're looking forward to coming here for a proper stay in the Lindon Suite soon. Come try the bistro for lunch. It's lovely!!! x; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Panorama; City: Cagliari Province of Cagliari Sardinia; Review: My husband and I were in need of a hotel room at very short notice, when the boat we were staying on, flooded. We walked to the Panorama and took our chances. The staff at the front desk were pleasant and helpful and spoke enough English for us to be able to convey what we needed. A room was made available to us immediately (it was still morning) and we handed over our passports and cash for the room. Our room was on the sixth floor and was very clean, with everything we needed. The mini bar was very reasonably priced. Shower was hot and perfect. Bed was comfortable. Only thing we were a little put off by, the room temperature was high and, despite turning down the thermostat, it remained very hot. (It was winter). There was also no tea/coffee making facilities in the room. Apart from that, there was Sky TV, ample wardrobe space and a telephone. Breakfast (included in the price) was served in the restaurant on the 8th floor, with wonderful views of the town and coastline. Breakfast is served 7-10am. We arrived at 9am and half of the food was gone and had not been replenished. It is a continental breakfast of assorted pastries, cakes, toast, cheeses and meats with cereals, tea, coffee and fruit juices. We paid 99 euros for one night. Would probably stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riftswood B B; City: Whitby Scarborough District North Yorkshire England; Review: We stayed here, after seeing the great reviews, for an anniversary break and also to check out Whitby and the route home, which we will be cycling next year for charity. We were welcomed in by Paula and her delightful dog, Denzil, with a big smile and were shown to our room. We were in room 1 (the smaller of the three rooms) but it was adequate for us. We had an en suite shower and sink with a private loo nextdoor. The offer of wine / tea / coffee and cake came before we'd even unpacked and it really felt like we were staying with friends. Paula and Peter had prepared a personalised breakfast menu and information sheet for us (including wifi password) and we were to pop our choices down and leave it in the dining room for her. The room had a tv/dvd (choice of dvds in the dining room for you to borrow), hairdryer, kettle with tea/coffee/chocolate and chocolate sweets, towels, soap and shower gel. Extra pillows and blankets were provided if you wanted. Breakfast was cooked to order with a choice of cereals and toast as well as full cooked breakfast (including vegetarian sausages), orange juice and tea/coffee... and it was absolutely delicious. I felt so at home, I said to my husband "I feel like I want to offer her a hand in the kitchen!" On our anniversary, we came back from a day out to find a bottle of wine and a card in our room! It is these little touches that mean so much. You have to remember, you are in their home, so you may hear some activity early morning as they get up to make your breakfast!! They really can't do enough for you and this is made quite clear from the excellent reviews here. A short walk to the beach / town centre. We will most definitely stay here again. Thanks to you both for having us. Mandy and Lee x; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bridge Inn Conwy; City: Conwy Conwy County North Wales Wales; Review: Stayed here for one night as a get away from it all break with the husband. The landlady gave us directions for free car parking which was great as there is no local parking for residents other than pay and display. Beautiful room with Wi-Fi, good size bed with tv and drinks. The bar is friendly and also welcomes dogs. I tried the gin menu (not my usual drink) and the bar guy seemed happy to offer his advice. Food was nice. Home made and delicious. Will definitely stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trwyn Yr Wylfa Camping Site; City: Conwy Conwy County North Wales Wales; Review: I am currently sitting on my camp chair at this site, with a coffee, looking out at the beautiful views. It is Sunday morning. On arrival, we were greeted by a friendly lady who offered us a bin bag for any rubbish, a reminder of the rules, and gave directions to our pitch. The pitches are, generally, sloped. To be honest, it gives you the best chance of seeing the spectacular views. Water and EHU was close. The grass is very well maintained with a separate field for non-electric pitches just at the back. It looks like they are preparing some foundations for glamping pods too. It's quiet. Dogs are allowed on a short lead, and there are plenty of them here 😁 The no music / no noise policy is great as the children play rounders on the big field with their parents, and we're not forced to listen to Basement Jaxx while they do it. There is free WiFi and it is good signal. That always has to be a bonus. At 11pm, the site fell silent. You can get a decent night's sleep that way. I love it here. Honestly? It has dropped a point for the shower block for me. There are just 3 showers, and two sinks (ladies) for our field. The showers are really small, with a curtain to separate you from the door. However, the curtain sticks to you while you're showering and it's a "push button" operating system. You get only about 10 seconds of water so you're constantly pushing the button. When you pull the curtain back, all your things are wet. There are hooks on the door, but trying to put trousers on while everywhere is wet is a bit of a pain. There is a room with fridges, freezers, washing up, laundry facilities and a coffee machine. This is great. Label your food and pop it in the fridge. Everyone seems to be respectful of ownership. Would I come here again? In a heartbeat. It's clean, quiet, stunning views and has everything you need. Just need bigger toilet/shower facilities.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rynys Farm Camping Site; City: Betws y Coed Snowdonia National Park North Wales Wales; Review: I booked this site for a family camping trip with our dog, as it has amazing reviews. We arrived an hour later than anticipated as we got lost. It is at the top of quite an incline, so you'll need a good engine if you're towing a caravan. Our welcome was lovely. Carol greeted us outside reception and showed us the facilities before meeting us at the pitch. We were on the "family field" and, although the site is huge, it felt slightly busy. Pitches: mostly flat but some are on a mild incline. Rough grass, uneven in places, with fire extinguishers and EHU dotted about. Facilities: There are 2 toilets and 2 showers in each of the ladies and gents. They are always clean and well presented. There is soap and a hand towel available. Showers are 10p for 2 minutes and there are no electric points for hairdryers in the ladies. There are shaving points in the gents. There is a drying room with coin operated tumble dryers, although our trainers and coat came out with what looked like blue ink on them. There is a fridge and freezer for your things with washing up facility and a pool table at a charge of 30p per game. The toilet block is quite some way across the field and is accessed by a stone path, up a steep incline, that is best walked in good shoes, as I discovered when I fell out of my flip flops trying to get up there. Rules: No music at any time means it's more relaxed than some. No noise is permitted between 11pm and 8am, although our neighbours were up before 6am today telling the grandson to stop touching the sides of the tent. Dogs are permitted on a lead. As far as I can see, there is no exercise area for them. WiFi is available at a charge of £1 per device but the signal is quite hit and miss due to the location. Nearby: There is a pub about 1/4 mile away but it appears to be a little unsafe to walk as there is the steep road out of the site and an unlit road with no pavement when you get to the bottom. You'll need a car unless you're a seasoned hiker. Positives: Its quiet. Good location. Well looked after. Negatives: Not enough toilets/showers. Hilly. You'll need a car to explore. Would I come back? Probably, yes. Without the kids.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 30 James Street Home of the Titanic; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: Brought mum here for a night away to celebrate her 70th birthday. As you may have gathered, if you're a follower of my reviews, I'm completely honest about what I find and will aim to help you make an informed decision when booking a hotel. It was a groupon deal, very good value for money. There is no parking outside the hotel, but you park in Liverpool One Q-Park, which is a 5 minute walk, and they will discount your parking fee. The staff are an absolute credit to the company and are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. They can't do enough for you. We stayed in room 35, the Mutiny room. Two double beds and a jacuzzi bath with rainforest shower over. The room is massive. There are facilities for hot drinks, an ironing board and hairdryer. There were 2 bottles of wine and a bottle of prosecco on the table, with a small bundle of crisps and nuts etc. We opened the prosecco, which was warm :-( and phoned reception for an ice bucket. Prosecco is £20 for the bottle but was that "I heart prosecco" brand that costs about a fiver in any corner shop. Really expected better quality wine. The restaurant was nice, adequate, staff were very attentive. The food was part of the deal, set menu. The portion size of mine (plaice) was like a children's portion. The smallest meal I ever had. Having said that, it was delicious. Mum's meal was a bit bigger. She had chicken. To summarise: Beautiful building. Beautiful rooms. Adequate facilities. Wonderful staff. Perfect location. Lost points for: no fridge in our room, so the wine was warm. Small meal. Would I come again? Absolutely. It's lovely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: B B at Winterbrook; City: Ulverstone Tasmania; Review: This accommodation was up with the best we experienced in Tasmania.five star in all departments and thr breakfast was superb.Friendly and helpful hosts who are a credit to the industry.Many thanks for a great 3 days.Alf & Rena Hoyle Rotorua NZ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 97 Motel Moray; City: Dunedin Otago Region South Island; Review: In Dunedin for capping of grandaughter.Very helpful and friendly even provided cotton and needles to stitch up a loose hem.Arranged breakfast long after close of orders.Lovely warm spacious room well serviced.So handy to main centre and town hall.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novotel Auckland Airport; City: Mangere North Island; Review: very few hotels catering for one night accommodation at airports get it right.This one has nailed it.Quick check in, great rooms,nice restaurant and easy access to departure lounges staff that know how to treat guests.a haven for the tired traveller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Regal Port Douglas; City: Port Douglas Queensland; Review: right in town,swimming pool,jakuzz in appartment,great reception friendly as,helpful,dont mess with Sheryl,she caried bth our suitcases from the car up the steps,one in each hand,quite a feat but underneath shes all heart.a great couple and a lovely place to stay; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Distinction Rotorua Hotel Conference Centre; City: Rotorua Rotorua District Bay of Plenty Regi; Review: Lovely setting alongside pool, very healthy menu but the. special stew is delicious,excellent coffee and nice decor.plenty of parking with a great quality gift shop alongside the menu is extensive and the waitress helpful in your choice of food.just a short trip from the city centre a nice quiet oasis in a busy city; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coastal Motor Lodge; City: Thames Coromandel Peninsula Waikato Region North Island; Review: What a great centre to explore the area,the units are very comfortable warm and quiet.the bush background is nice to wake up to.owners were so helpful providing a hot plate and pans to get her with an e/l frypan.nice ocean outlook and a great tarrif; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Collegiate; City: Whanganui Manawatu Wanganui Region North Island; Review: Restaurant was excellent,great menu and good proportions,staff excellent.Room clean and tidy,good bed but the pillows were hopeless,thin even two were useless rooms34 and 35 were the same. They spoiled a good nights sleep.good. Inns these days even have a pillow menu.those pillows should be donated to the SPCA; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whispering Sands Beachfront Motel; City: Gisborne Gisborne Region North Island; Review: 5 days holiday in superb surroundings right on the beach,comfortable unit well serviced and plenty going on with boardwalk and beach right there.full kitchen facilities with full stove.kitchen utensils lack a spud peeler.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairley Motor Lodge; City: Napier Hawke s Bay Region North Island; Review: Our usual room 14 has had a makeover and is really nice,big bed and tons of room with some cooking facilities,plenty of space for a bed sit with lots if light.Quiet location and very handy to restaurants; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taihape Motel; City: Taihape Rangitikei District Manawatu Wanganui Region North Island; Review: Terrible wet day,nice welcome from owner,bedsit hadeverything we needed and the price with the AA discount was appealing.plenty of parking,quiet and more than you would expect in a sleepy hollow.Store down the road provided a nice meal for the evening.The beer on arrival was a nice touch; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Acorn Estate Motel Masterton; City: Masterton Wairarapa Greater Wellington North Island; Review: A basic nz motel with a friendly host,Very clean and unit 10 the family unit is great value at the price,full kitchen and dishwasher.Only downer,it needs a heat pump.Veryhandy to town and easy to find.swimming pool but weather poor; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Distinction Rotorua Hotel Conference Centre; City: Rotorua Rotorua District Bay of Plenty Regi; Review: My family have supported this hotel since it was built by the de Ree bros many years ago.I took my family for dinner on my 88 th birthday and we froze.The small restaurant T he Pavillion has a lot of glass and although we sat beneath the heat pump it was cold and 3degrees outside.Worse still,a polite letter the the manager was ignored as was a follow up if you dine there wear long johns and a bubble jacket.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wanaka View Motel; City: Wanaka Otago Region South Island; Review: 4 adults in chalet 3 two too many tiny is the word,at the price barely enough milk for four cups of tea on arrival,coffee and tea not replaced over 4days,had to request fresh towels on our second day,no basics in the bathroom and the temp was 42 degrees on our last afternoon and the air con didn’t work.Owner had the affrontary to ask if we had air con at home,next morning she was changing batteries in the remote with no results,this business has changed hands in the last three months,it shows,no numbered parking and we had to park on the street.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku; Brand: Infogrames; Review: This game is a cute distraction for fans of the anime. You'll enjoy travelling through familiar locales and meeting familiar people. If you aren't a fan, or are at best indifferent, you will NOT like this game. There is zero depth. Hand to hand fighting is a good way to get killed, but that's about it. It's all about pelting your opponents from maximum range with ranged attack X and then running away like a little girl- very un-Goku like. I'm a big fan of the show, and I enjoy the game every now and then. It's fun to make Goku scream "Kamehameha!" so often your girlfriend begins to scream it randomly too.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monster Rancher Advance; Brand: by
Tecmo; Review: I too was surprised by how much fun this game is, after dismissing the early parts of the Monster Rancher series as too 'kiddie'. Basically, you revive a monster by inputting any word of your own choosing into a computer. The word creates a monster and determines its stats. There are a ton of monsters to discover using this method, so it might take you a while to revive one you like. After picking your partner, you train him by sending him to coaches that train specific stats like strength, speed and accuracy, and by having him battle in tournaments for different prizes. Eventually, your monster will become too old to be good in a fight, but old monsters can become new coaches, and you can begin the process all over again with newer, more powerful monsters that you've unlocked through word experimentation and gameplay. This is a great game to take with you. The game saves itself in between turns, so you can make progress in a matter of seconds, save your game, and go back about your business. All in all, I am very impressed with MRA.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mega Man Battle Network 2; Brand: Capcom; Review: What is immediately apparent about this game is that BN2 has something for everybody. It successfully combine the elements of an RPG, a platformer, and the 'collector' genre (ie Pokemon) into a neat, story-driven little package. The interface is pretty slick- there aren't too many menus to navigate through, and although there isn't a quest journal, hints come in the form of 'e-mail', and your partner will let you know what you should be doing next at the touch of a button. Combat is just plain fun. It takes place on a grid in cyberspace, and although you are confined to lateral movement only, you get a neat little bag of tricks from temporary power-ups called chips. Every few seconds, you can open up your chip folder and select another special power or combination thereof to use against the enemy- this is where long-time afficionados of the MegaMan series will find the powers of their fallen foes- Gutsman's and Roll's powers, for example. Combat can be tricky, but since you are confined to lateral movement on a smallish grid, it is mostly a game of figuring out your opponent's attack patterns and then countering. Nonetheless, it is a load of fun and there seem to be tons of different enemies to toss a beating to. The world itself is colorful, the characters are interesting, and the story itself, while of the Saturday morning cartoon variety, is still pretty interesting. Although the game centers around the life of an elementary school kid as seems to be the current trend these days, you shouldn't let that fact alone drive you to relegate this title into the 'kiddie games' category- you'll be missing out on one of the best GBA games to date.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem; Brand: Silicon Knights; Review: There have been quite a few attempts at video games based upon Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, but they never seem to make it to the market. Although Eternal Darkness is set within its own little universe, it borrows heavily from the mythos, and Lovecraft's influence is readily apparent. The game begins when your character, Alexandra Roivas, decides to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding her grandfather's death at their ancestral mansion. Through an absolutely brilliant plot device, the player is able to take control of many of Alex's ancestors from ages past and several other characters from all over the world. Each of these chapters help the player piece together the mystery and reveal the hidden agenda of a group of extremely powerful and malevolent entities. Gameplay is very smooth. Holding down one controller button allows you to lock on an enemy target, and with a flick of the control stick you can aim at specific body parts. Some baddies fall when they are decapitated, some you have to take apart limb by limb before they will fall. As with most third person games, camera angles are fixed and sometimes problematic, as you may find yourself being disembowled by some horror just off screen. Combat is relatively well balanced, and the puzzles in the game find a way to be interesting without being terribly difficult. the graphics are quite good, many monsters can be on the screen without any noticeable slowdown. The monsters themselves are quite detailed and look great, but they don't vary a whole lot towards the earlier part of the game. The magic system is very cool. You must find runes of power hidden throughout the game (often inside of monsters). Each rune corresponds to an alignment, an effect, and a target. By mixing and matching the runes, you can create many different spells. There's also a large variety of mundane weaponry to collect and to toss a beating with. Each of the characters you control seem to have their own strengths and weaknesses. Some are excellent melee fighters, some excel at throwing spells. Some have a ton of health, while others are quite fragile. By far the coolest aspect of the game (and the part that perhaps owes more than a little to Chaosim's Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game) is the sanity system. Everytime you undergo something hideously supernatural, you lose a little bit of your mind as you struggle to grasp the situation. This manifests as hallucinations, both visual and audial. You may get an unexpected phone call, or have a horrible vision of your own demise. This effect is truly very creepy. I've already had statues come to life and watch me cross an empty hallway. I've seen walls bleed, and bugs crawl across my television screen. There are several ways to regain your sanity, but sometimes it's just fun letting it fall a little bit to see how creepy things can really get. Resident Evil may have been an inspiration for Eternal Darkness, but it is a poor comparison. This game is truly a wonder to experience,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster Rancher 3; Brand: Tecmo; Review: Monster Rancher 3 is quirky, great looking, and a ton of fun. The premise is simple enough- you select a monster to take through training exercises, building various attributes like speed and strength, and then enter them into tournaments wear they duke it out with other monsters. Several aspects of gameplay add depth to the basics. First off, you can 'find' different monsters on any CD or DVD. The game reads certain information from each disk you place in the PS2 and unlocks a corresponding monster for you to train. In other words, all of your music, movies and games unlock different monsters- some of which are very rare. It's also great fun when a disk you use unlocks a monster that seems to be associated with whatever the disk is- try using a Godzilla DVD or Parappa the Rapper or Tenchu: Stealth Assassins game for the PS One, for example. You'll get some amusing and rare monsters to train. You can customize each of your charges as well. In addition to being able to buy the accessories like armor, you select which attributes they should focus on in their training and which they should let atrophy. You can also set which techniques they'll be able to use in combat. Combat is fast and furious. The tactics you'll find the most success with are dependent on your monsters. Big, lumbering monsters are better played defensively, waiting for that one slip up before they strike, while speed demons can do well playing aggressively. You'll fight in either round robin or elimination tournaments for prizes, more cash for training and feeding your monster, or certification to fight at the next highest tier. The game is not terribly difficult once you know what you are doing, but it still tends to be fun. MR3 has good replay value since there are so many monsters to discover and train, each with a unique personality and tactics. It can get a little stale from time to time, since the routine changes only slightly. The multiplayer aspect of the game is also somewhat limited as it requires each player to spend time in the single player game training up a stable of monsters to compete against othe players. All in all, a very good game that will capture your interest, even if only for a little while.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Theft Auto Vice City; Brand: by
2K; Review: Vice City is like an expansion pack on steroids- it's still got the GTA III framework, but there are a TON of additions and revisions. The game is long, features quality voice acting by the likes of Dennis Hopper, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds and Jenna Jameson, and has a fast-paced and involving plot. In terms of game mechanics, you can crouch now, which is very handy for shootouts. You can enter a bunch of buildings to find hidden power-ups, minigames, or just to stick 'em up for some fast cash. The missions branch off early on, so you'll quickly have a choice of things to do. As for the afore-mentioned minigames, there are a lot of new ones in addition to the ever-popular killing sprees/rampages and the hidden stunt jumps including demolition derbies, radio-controlled racing and shooting galleries. In terms of vehicles, you've got a wide assortment of sports cars and powerful utility vehicles. But you also get to pilot motorcycles, speed boats, planes and helicopters! Motorcycles come into play very early in the game, the other new vehicles have to be unlocked. Some of the buildings in Vice City are for sale- you can buy them, and they produce revenue for you each day. You can own hotels, clubs, film studios and more. You can also purchase property for your base of operations to save your game and store your weapons and vehicles in. You can choose from condos, seedy rooms behind bars, or luxury hotels with rooftop helipads. There are a -lot- of new weapons including a chainsaw, a katana and a minigun. This time around, there's no need to enter the code for added gore- you can take off body parts right from the start. Head shots are particularly gruesome and well done. The developers obviously spent a lot of time on the aesthetics. Everyone wears period clothing and you yourself can change outfits- it seems silly at first, but sometimes it's necessary for a mission (and sometimes it's just fun to put on a nice suit before wacking a mark). The vehicles are all from the 80s, and the extensive soundtrack kicks butt. You'll find a ton of your favorite cheese on every station. Obviously, the GTA guys realize that there was something to that whole 'let's have an actual plot' thing from GTA III. The story this time is really nifty, very involving, and utilizes the extreme voice talent nicely. But the biggest appeal of the GTA series has always been its open-endedness, and the same holds true for Vice City. A large portion of the city, many vehicles and weapons must be unlocked through the missions in the main storyline, but you can still spend a few hours as soon as you first put the disc in running around randomly and never get bored. As a final note, the storyline this time is a lot more risque. GTA III simply alluded to drugs and pornography at many points, Vice City revels in it...P>In the end it's a great game- nowhere near being the next generation sequel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metroid Prime; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: Metroid Prime turned out a lot better than I expected, and I had high hopes for the game to begin with. It doesn't feel like an FPS at all to me (which is what scared a lot of fans), but strangely enough it somehow manages to capture the classic Metroid gameplay- find powerups, unlock and explore new areas, and defeat minibosses. The controls are unique, but they're going to take some getting used to for old-school Metroid gamers. They aren't very intuitive- for example, you can't aim up or down while moving, so you have to stand still while you look around. This is perhaps one of the few games where the simplistic nature of the Gamecube's controller does a game a disservice- the PS2 controller, for example, would have been well-utilized for Metroid Prime. But you get used to the controls after a few hours of play. Combat is pretty simple, the lock-on system of the newer Zelda games has been adopted. Combat isn't as much about dodging and being a good twitch player as much as it is about finding your enemies weak points. That's good and bad, but intense combat has never really been a part of the Metroid games, its always been about recognizing patterns and weaknesses. The levels are all huge and gorgeously detailed. There are a bunch of different environments, and the tried and true Metroid method of doubling back once you have the rockets, bombs, grapple beam, etc. to reach previously inaccessible areas is very enjoyable (well, to me at least). The special effects- humidity on your helmet's visor, flashes reflecting your face off the inside of your helmet, great looking explosions, all add a lot of detail to the game. The sound effects are wonderful, and the music is a mix of some new tracks and updated of the classic Metroid tracks. The plot is played out mostly through your scan visor- you can scan enemies, both living and dead, and objects to see what the nefarious space pirates are up to. Fans of the Metroid universe will probably enjoy the many revelations about Samus' past. The game isn't without its flaws, however. For example, Metroid games have a pretty basic formula- land ship, find out what the space pirates are mutating this time, escape before base/ship/planet explodes. It wouldn't have hurt the designers to do something different in terms of plot this time considering the ever-growing breadth of the Metroid universe, but the sheer playability and atmospheric detail of the game help overcome the paper-thin, overused plot. Definite Game of the Year contender.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 - Xbox; Brand: by
Activision; Review: This game suffers from an unusual problem that most sequels don't: it seems the developers listened to the gaming community. The first Spider-Man The Movie game was a lot of fun, but it had it's limitations- it was too linear, there was no room for exploration, and your activities were limited to the skies and rooftops and a few indoor areas. Spidey-fans and gamers alike wanted more room to swing and more opportunities to use their great powers with great responsibility- but less linearity. S-M2 bucks that trend. In a nod to Grand Theft Auto 3-style gaming, the city is now yours to explore. There are huge skyscrapers, dark alleyways, and bustling streets. You can either choose to follow along with the linear plot, seek out mini-missions that net you points you can use to purchase upgrades, or hunt down hidden items (for no apparent reason than a higher overall score). While great in concept, the implementation is sorely lacking. There are only a handful of randomly-generated mini-mission types (car chases, robberies, air-land-and-sea rescues), which forces you to replay the same tired action sequences over and over and over. Fun for a bit, but not for hours and hours of filler. The way the game is structured, you have to purchase upgrades to progress- so you are forced to take hundreds of these mini-missions to follow the game's main plot. Swinging around the city is lots of fun, and you get a bunch of different upgrades (web zip line and slingshot for example) that aren't really functionally necessary, but still add to your enjoyment. In addition, you can pull off weird midair Tony Hawk-like stunts (also purchasable)for no apparent reason other than that they are marginally enjoyable as well. The main plot is well done. It diverges from the movie and adds in some nifty comic book characters such as Rhino and the Black Cat, but the generally outline- defeat Octavius and win back Mary Jane, remains the same. The fighting system has apparent depth, but most combat against non-bosses can be resolved with button mashing. It can be fun at times, tossing bad guys left and right- but after awhile pounding thugs into the pavement or hanging them off lampposts looses all semblance of a challenge. S-M2 is also the 700,000 game to feature a Matrix "bullettime" mode. Yawn. So much could have been done with this game that I can't help but suspect that we were given an unfinished product set to be released concurrently with the movie. It is truly a shame. Not worth the full purchase price. Rent or buy used unless you're a Spider-Man fanatic. If so, find a good sale...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Magic the Gathering: Battlegrounds; Brand: Atari; Review: If you're looking for something MTG flavored, you should quite frankly look somewhere else. This is a poorly-executed attempt at changing a deep strategy game into a fast-paced game of counters and tactics. It fails. Miserably so. Tactics in this game roughly amount to whether you send your MTG-equivalent of rock, scissors or paper against your opponent's selection. There's no more depth to it than that. To make things even more frustrating, the game requires you mash buttons as quickly and almost indiscriminately as possible in order to match up with the computer's spellcaster. Thus your choice of rock or scissors is largely decided by luck rather than any true strategy. And once you figure out what an opposing spellcaster's bag of tricks contains, there's nothing more to beating him than always countering his attack and attacking his weakness- for every opponent you face is a one trick pony. Nothing to see here folks, move along.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Killing Fields Book 2 (Alexa's Travels) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Angela White Page; Review: Another fantastic book. Iv'e read them all and haven't been disappointed yet. Every one has been 5 star. Can't wait for the next one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Highways: Discord (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Brown Page; Review: Love these books almost as much as Slow Burn. Can't wait for book 4.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Drafter (The Peri Reed Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Harrison Page; Review: The first thing I have to say is this is not The Hollows. It is a new world and new characters. I like everyone else miss Rachel and the gang. But this new world is interesting too. I'm not as big a fan of Peri as I am of Rachel but I like the idea. What would any of us do if we were in this position? How would we feel? I really liked the book and am wondering where it goes from here? What happens next? Does Peri ever remember what all has happened to her? I want to know more about Sila and Peri and what lead up to her going in to take them down. I read Sideswiped too and was interested in the idea. I love Kim Harrison and her writing. I'm eager to see what comes next. I want to know more about the time between Sideswiped and The Drafter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Primal Shift; Author: Visit Amazon's Griffin Hayes Page; Review: Loved this one as much as the first.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waylaid (Kindle Single) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Harrison Page; Review: I just got this and loved it. It was great to see Rachel and Jenks. I miss them so much. Loved the story but wish it was longer. Great short story. I love Kim Harrison. Haven't read a single book of hers I haven't loved.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: A Kansas 13-year-old was charged with a felony for pointing a finger gun at her classmates; Abstract: The girl is facing a felony for threatening her classmates after another teen asked her who in the class she would kill if given the chance.; Category: news
Title: 'The face of heroin': Mom shares haunting before and after pics of addiction; Abstract: Jennifer Salfen-Tracy distributed images of her son in the hopes of finding him and raising awareness about addiction.; Category: health
Title: Israeli-American woman, 26, sentenced by Russia to 7.5 years for marijuana possession is being 'held hostage' because Israel refuses to release Russian hacker; Abstract: Naama Issachar, 25, was sentenced by a Moscow court on Friday. Israel says Russia has offered to release her in exchange for Alexei Borkov (right), a hacker set to be extradited to the U.S.; Category: news
Title: This Is How You Tell If Your Wine Has Gone Bad; Abstract: Have a glass or two, and now you aren't sure if your wine is still good to drink? Buzz60's TC Newman has some tips for figuring out if your wine has gone bad!; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Woman who attacked, poured lighter fluid on Dollar General clerk heading to prison; Abstract: A Woodruff woman pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnapping, first-degree assault and battery, and shoplifting, according to Murray Glenn, 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office. Tammy Darlene Huitt, 53, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for pouring lighter fluid on a store clerk after violently attacking her, Glenn said. Huitt went inside of a Dollar General on 4580 Highway 146 North, in Woodruff, at about 9 p.m. on October 29, 2018, and attacked the...; Category: news
Title: A Texas mom is going to prison after putting her son through unnecessary medical procedures; Abstract: A Dallas mother made her son go through unnecessary medical procedures throughout the first years of his life, court documents say.; Category: news
Title: Blood smuggling in China: Pregnant women break the law to find out their babies' sex; Abstract: Hong Kong has become a hub for Chinese women who want to find out the sex of their unborn child by smuggling vials of blood into the city. This black market was made possible by a revolutionary test which detects fetal DNA in the mother's blood.; Category: news
Title: When I Had to Choose Between My Health and How I Worship; Abstract: I never thought my chronic illness would force me to choose between worship and preserving my health.; Category: health
Title: Gordon Sondland is about to blow a hole in Trump's Ukraine defense; Abstract: The Post reports that he will tell Congress there was a quid pro quo thought not a "corrupt" one, according to a person close to him.; Category: news
Title: Panera Bread worker fired after TikTok exposed frozen mac and cheese; Abstract: On Friday, the poster said on Twitter that she was fired for the video, showing her place a frozen bag of macaroni and cheese into a vat of hot water.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Florida man calls 911 to say roommate 'stole his weed'; Abstract: A Florida man who kept calling 911 about a roommate who "stole his weed" was asked to please top calling 911, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Department.; Category: news
Title: He pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. It turned out to be powdered milk.; Abstract: Cody Gregg was arrested after police stopped him for riding a bicycle with no rear lights and searched his backpack.; Category: news
Title: U.S. Man Faces Jail for Allegedly Punching a Russian Police Officer; Abstract: The 68-year-old man, who has not been named, had been staying with a friend in Obninsk, 60 miles southwest of Moscow.; Category: news
Title: Dad Helps Daughter Study for a Big Test By Dropping History Facts Into Their Text Chain; Abstract: One dad knows how much his tween loves to text, so he decided to use it to her advantage by flooding their convo with government facts.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Four-metre king cobra wrestled from sewer in Thailand; Abstract: A feisty four-metre (13-foot) king cobra was pulled from a sewer in southern Thailand in an hour-long operation, a rescue foundation said Tuesday, describing the reptile as one of the largest they had ever captured. Kritkamon said the snake was more than four metres long, weighed 15 kilos (33 pounds), and was the third-largest they had found.; Category: news
Title: Help! My Friend Is Getting Married on a Southern Plantation. Can I Skip It?; Abstract: "I don't want to make it seem like I'm putting her down, but I'd prefer not to attend an event that's taking place there."; Category: lifestyle
Title: I Was an Only Child by Circumstance, My Son Is an Only Child by Choice; Abstract: When my wife and I decided to make our first child our last, many asked us why. Here's what I tell them and what we learned when planning our (little) family.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 'MasterChef' winner insults vegan customer who complained about his restaurant's lack of meatless options; Abstract: Simon Wood, who won "Masterchef" in the UK in 2015, called one customer a "d---" after they criticized the chef's handling of vegan customers.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: What I Want You To Know Before You Judge Me (Or Anyone Else) Working In Fast Food; Abstract: "What do you do?" has always been a complicated question for me to answer. I'mcurrently a freelance writer, I'm a former film festival marketing assistant,and I work at McDonald's. It's my "anchor" job that helps to pay my bills.I've worked on and off at the restaurant for over seven years, throughoutcollege and internships, and as a means to keep pursuing my writing and filminterests. There have been multiple instances where I've taken my...; Category: lifestyle
Title: Is There Such A Thing As A Harmless Crush When You're Married?; Abstract: "Do you need help with those bags?"I am walking past the Studio City Starbucks to my car, carrying two medium-sized shopping bags from Papyrus. Without looking up, I smile politely in hisdirection and shake my head "no." Next, I hear his footsteps and briefly feelthe warmth of his hand next to mine as he gently takes the larger of the twobags out of one of my hands ― he smells like a freshly laundered T-shirt.It's a move that I would typically...; Category: lifestyle
Title: Dutch family found isolated at farm may have been held against their will, police say; Abstract: Dutch police investigating a family that may have lived isolated on a farm for a decade said Thursday it's possible they were held there against their will -- and they're looking at whether "certain religion or philosophy" might have been involved.; Category: news
Title: Elderly getting scammed by their own families, and AARP is out to stop it; Abstract: As financial exploitation of older people explodes, AARP launches training to teach bank staff how to spot someone ripping off the elderly.; Category: finance
Title: Man sets pet lion on electrician who tried to collect pay, police say; Abstract: The caretaker of a Pakistani house of worship unleashed his pet lion on an electrician who was trying to collect late payment, local police say.; Category: news
Title: $42 million price cut on tech billionaire's Silicon Valley monster mansion; Abstract: Silicon Valley big shot Scott McNealy drastically slashed the price on his mega Portola Valley, Calif., mansion on over 13 serene acres. McNealy originally listed the estate, which includes a 28,000-square-foot house, for $96.8 million in June 2018. The new listing price is $54.8 million, an impressive $42 million price cut.; Category: finance
Title: Mom warned officials son was taking gun to school. Now she faces charges.; Abstract: The mother, whose teenage son died by suicide at a middle school, faces charges that include felony neglect of a dependent.; Category: news
Title: MPD officer: Police complaints investigator was 'out to get me'; Abstract: A D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer is speaking out about the government agency that found him guilty of harassment and retaliation saying he feels the process was slanted against him. "I've been wronged," officer J.P. Mcardle, who patrols, MPD's Fifth District, said. The series of events that caused Mcardle to feel that way started May 29, 2018. Mcardle was patrolling his beat along Brentwood Road in Northeast D.C. when he spotted a...; Category: news
Title: Police: Parents arrested after 1-year-old daughter tests positive for fentanyl; Abstract: A couple is facing child endangerment and drug charges after their 1-year-old daughter tested positive for fentanyl earlier this month, authorities said.; Category: news
Title: Gambler robbed after women spike drink at South Florida casino; Abstract: Two women spiked a tourist's drink at a South Florida casino before bringing him back to his hotel room and robbing him of $1,000 cash and a Rolex worth $15,000.; Category: news
Title: Couple sue Taco Bell over Chalupa Cravings Boxes; Abstract: A Middlesex Borough couple says they were charged $12.18 for two Chalupa Cravings Boxes which they say were advertised on a TV for $5 apiece.; Category: finance
Title: Ex-officer who killed retired librarian during drill gets no jail time; Abstract: A former Florida police officer who fatally shot a 73-year-old retired librarian during a demonstration for the public in 2016 will not serve jail time.; Category: news
Title: Shaquille O'Neal donates home to family of Atlanta boy paralyzed in shooting; Abstract: Shaquille O'Neal heard Isaiah Payton couldn't go home after he was paralyzed from the chest down. So Shaq donated an accessible house to his family.; Category: sports
Title: Dear Care and Feeding: How Do I Tell My Mom I'm Not Having Kids?; Abstract: Parenting advice on going child-free, peeing on the floor, and Midsommar.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Armed Man Wearing Body Armor Arrested At Dallas Trump Rally; Abstract: Dallas police arrested an armed adult male wearing body armor at Trump's Keep America Great rally Thursday night.; Category: news
Title: Prince Harry acknowledges tensions with William in ITV interview; Abstract: Britain's Prince Harry has acknowledged tensions with his older brother Prince William for the first time, saying they are on "different paths."; Category: lifestyle
Title: Illegal vapes traced to California woman who was CBD pioneer; Abstract: CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) Some of the people rushing to emergency rooms thought the CBD vape they inhaled would help like a gentle medicine. Others puffed it for fun. What the vapors delivered instead was a jolt of synthetic marijuana, and with it an intense high of hallucinations and even seizures.; Category: news
Title: An Awkward Moment As Meghan Markle Met A Curtsy Attempt With An American Greeting; Abstract: Customs vary by country and a hug was lost in translation when Meghan Markle took the stage. Buzz60's Keri Lumm reports.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Man threatened school to distract from robbery, police say; Abstract: As a precaution, schools in one of the districts that were threatened placed all of its schools on a modified lockdown; Category: news
Title: 'Old Town Road' becomes the second country single to reach top-selling Diamond status; Abstract: Lil Nas X joins Florida Georgia Line in the country history books.; Category: music
Title: Parking space sells for almost $1 million; Abstract: Businessman Johnny Cheung has reportedly sold a 135-square-foot parking space in Hong Kong for a whopping $969,000 to an as-yet-undentified buyer.; Category: finance
Title: Man wearing clown mask robs Suffolk store at gunpoint; Abstract: Suffolk police are investigating after a Sonic was robbed at gunpoint by a man in a clown mask on Monday night. Police said the Sonic in the 1500 block of North Main Street was robbed around 10:40 p.m. After investigating, responding officers learned that a man wearing a hooded jacket and a clown mask walked into the business, showed that he had a gun, and demanded money from employees. He was able to get away with cash before any police officer...; Category: news
Title: A man in Brazil accidentally blew up his yard while trying to kill some cockroaches; Abstract: Cesar Schmitz told FocusOn News, translated by the New York Post, that his wife had complained about roaches invading their garden.; Category: news
Title: Trump blasts 'Never Trump' Republicans as 'human scum'; Abstract: President Trump on Wednesday excoriated so-called Never Trump Republicans.; Category: news
Title: 'Slender Man' investigators discuss chilling interviews with 12-year-old suspects; Abstract: The investigators who questioned the young attempted murderers spoke for the first time with "20/20" and discussed how they uncovered their three vicious plots.; Category: news
Title: My Mom Never Let Me Pierce My Ears Here's Why I Finally Did it At 42; Abstract: "I lived by my mother's beliefs, which I never considered I could defy until after she died."; Category: lifestyle
Title: From unknown to US Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says sudden fame is like 'a tattoo on your face'; Abstract: New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has become one of the Democratic Party's most recognizable faces since her 2018 election.; Category: news
Title: Flight shaming is gaining traction and could cost airlines billions; Abstract: Consumers are paying more attention to their carbon footprint and it could cost airlines billions of dollars, Citi said in a note to clients Tuesday.; Category: finance
Title: Video allegedly shows police officer roughing up 11-year-old girl; Abstract: "There's no excuse for the way this girl was treated," the Farmington police chief said.; Category: news
Title: Chinese hitmen jailed over repeatedly outsourced murder; Abstract: A string of hitmen who repeatedly subcontracted a murder to each other -- then failed to go through with the job -- have been jailed in China.; Category: news
Title: Democrat Buttigieg used marijuana 'a handful of times'; Abstract: LAS VEGAS (AP) Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday that he's used marijuana "a handful of times a long time ago," and that it's time for the U.S. to legalize marijuana. Buttigieg, speaking to reporters after touring a legal pot dispensary in suburban Las Vegas, was asked about whether he'd ever used marijuana. "I have. A handful of times a long time ago," he said. He added that he knows people whose lives have been...; Category: news
Title: California's legal weed profits going up in smoke; Abstract: Nearly three years after California legalized marijuana, the profit outlook for this budding business looks cloudy.; Category: finance
Title: Emily Ratajkowski Is Being Sued for $150,000 Over an Instagram Photo; Abstract: What's more? The photographer is also asking for all of the profits the model made off of his work.; Category: movies
Title: Trump's lawyers say he couldn't be investigated or prosecuted if he shot someone on 5th Avenue; Abstract: President Trump's lawyers have made the bold and legally dubious argument that while he's in office, Trump cannot be investigated or prosecuted.; Category: news
Title: I never realized I was different until I had to buy a plus-size prom dress; Abstract: Related Slideshow: 15 prom fashion trends that you'll see everywhere in 2019 For my friends and me, shopping for a prom dress was a rite of passage. But apparently I was too big for it.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Deer fatally attacks hunter who shot him; Abstract: In what officials are calling a bizarre incident, an Arkansas hunter was killed by a deer that he thought he had killed.; Category: news
Title: Sex offenders sue sheriff who put 'no trick-or-treat' signs in their front yards; Abstract: The suit against the Butts County Sheriff's Office argues that the signs "violate private citizens' constitutional rights." It will be ruled Thursday.; Category: news
Title: Navy lieutenant and wife charged with defrauding the United States; Abstract: A Navy lieutenant and his wife have been arrested for conspiracy to defraud the government, making false statements to investigators and illegally possessing a firearm.; Category: news
Title: I'm more Mr Bean than James Bond, says spy suspect; Abstract: Ten months after his arrest in Russia, ex-US marine Paul Whelan ridicules a charge of espionage.; Category: news
Title: Judge: Brad Pitt, others can be sued over New Orleans homes; Abstract: The Times-Picayune/ The New Orleans Advocate reports Pitt and other foundation directors asked the court to remove them from the lawsuit, saying they weren't personally responsible for the construction.; Category: movies
Title: Crowds surge to Uluru on eve of climbing ban; Abstract: Long lines of visitors have been photographed waiting to ascend Uluru in the center of Australia ahead of an October 26 ban on climbing the site which is considered sacred by the local Anangu Aboriginal people.; Category: travel
Title: Guy Fieri Knows How to Laugh At Himself. That's Why He Has Instagram's Best Meme Account.; Abstract: The Mayor of Flavortown explains how he curates his internet presence with only a little clip art knowledge.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Dog The Bounty Hunter Is Cutting Out White Foods After His Recent Health Scare; Abstract: Dog real name Duane Chapman is taking steps to make sure he's not part of the 15% of people diagnosed with pulmonary embolism who die as a result of it.; Category: health
Title: Ex-SS guard on trial: I saw people led into gas chamber; Abstract: A 93-year-old former guard at the Nazis' Stutthof concentration camp testified at his trial Friday that he once saw people being led into the gas chamber, followed by screaming and banging sounds behind the locked door.; Category: news
Title: This Is the Rarest Personality Type in the World; Abstract: Do you think you have it? The post This Is the Rarest Personality Type in the World appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Dad Lied About 4-Year-Old's Role In Double Shooting: Report; Abstract: Authorities say a Milwaukee man blamed a double-shooting on his 4-year-old daughter, then changed his story to the more truthful version once police warned him about the charges he would be up against if he continued his tale.; Category: news
Title: Strange Dog Shows Up On Woman's Lawn And Seems To Recognize Her; Abstract: Kate Howard was sitting outside her home one afternoon after a memorial service when something amazing happened.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Teen breaks into German prison in bid to win back jailed ex; Abstract: A teenager has broken into a German prison in an attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend. Prison authorities in the northwestern town of Vechta told news agency dpa the 18-year-old scaled a 4-meter (13-foot) wall last week to get to his ex's window.; Category: news
Title: As Putin Era Begins to Wane, Russia Unleashes a Sweeping Crackdown; Abstract: The prosecution of harmless critics comes against the backdrop of foreboding and uncertainty over what might follow Putin, who has anchored the system for nearly two decades.; Category: news
Title: The Best and Worst Countries for Expats; Abstract: ; Category: finance
Title: Prosecutors want black judge who criticized incarceration rates of African Americans removed; Abstract: Iberia Parish judge Lori Landry has questioned the large number of black Louisianans incarcerated by the district attorney's office; Category: news
Title: 17 photos that show the ugly truth of living in a tiny house; Abstract: From cramped lofts that are hard to access to small appliances, this is what it's really like to live in a tiny house.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Kyoto's Gion neighborhood cracks down on photography; Abstract: Kyoto's historic Gion neighborhood is banning photography in certain areas in response to ongoing issues with bad tourist behavior.; Category: travel
Title: I'm extremely introverted, but I challenged myself to be more outgoing for a week, and it made me feel more confident; Abstract: I went from not speaking to anyone for an entire day to seeing movies by myself, chatting up strangers, and correcting my coffee order.; Category: lifestyle
Title: I Gave Up On Love, And It Was One Of The Best Decisions I Ever Made; Abstract: At the end of our date in August 2018, Justin escorted me to my car, where henervously kissed me. When I kissed him back, he cheered, pumping his fists inthe air like he'd won something. I walked from the curb to my car, and when Iturned around, he was watching me, beaming."I just want to make sure you get to your car safely," he said, even though Iwas less than a yard away.I slipped into the driver's seat, thrilled that our second date had gone...; Category: lifestyle
Title: Russia Unveils 'Unique' Weaponized Icebreaker as It Eyes Arctic Oil and Gas; Abstract: Only days after it conducted wide-scale military exercises in its far north, Russia has launched an icebreaker which is part of a fleet dubbed the country's "trump card" in the battle for the Arctic.; Category: news
Title: Photographer Crosses Paths With A Black Cat Unlike Any He's Seen Before; Abstract: Some people might think crossing paths with a black cat is a bad omen but for wildlife photographer George Turner, his encounter with one such feline was actually a sign of really, really good fortune.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Early to Bed, Early to Rise, Makes Me Diabetic, Depressed and Sick; Abstract: It's hard to feel normal when you wake up at 4 p.m. every day. According to conventional wisdom, going to bed early and waking up with the birds is a mere matter of habit and will power. This misconception is widespread, even among doctors. And for a long time, I believed it.; Category: health
Title: Iowa woman killed by explosion at gender reveal party; Abstract: An Iowa woman was killed by debris from an explosion at a gender reveal party on Saturday, police said.; Category: news
Title: Walmart Sparks Panic and Confusion in the Dish-Soap Aisle; Abstract: Procter & Gamble didn't make enough dish soap, and Walmart is letting all its customers know about it.; Category: finance
Title: My Partner Doesn't Want Kids. I Do. What Now?; Abstract: My partner says she no longer wants kids, but I do. What should we do? Our relationship expert weighs in.; Category: lifestyle
Title: "Oh My God, Your English Is So Good" Is Not a Compliment, So Please Stop; Abstract: I can't tell you the number of times I've heard people say, "Oh my God, your English is so good," when I disclose that I'm Puerto Rican and have only been in the states for three years.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Ivan Milat: 'Wolf Creek' serial killer dies without ever confessing to 7 murders; Abstract: The notorious Australian serial killer who inspired the horror film "Wolf Creek" has died after more than 20 years in jail, without confessing to any of the seven murders he was convicted for.; Category: news
Title: Cranes remove bus partially swallowed by Pittsburgh sinkhole; Abstract: A bus that was partially swallowed when a sinkhole opened during morning rush hour in downtown Pittsburgh has been removed from the hole. Authorities said earlier Monday that two cranes arrived to remove the city bus.; Category: news
Title: Cornell student, 18, found dead in gorge after frat party, reports say; Abstract: A top Ivy League student was found dead Saturday afternoon in a New York gorge after he left a fraternity party and disappeared Thursday night, according to reports.; Category: news
Title: China bans 'uncivilized behaviors' on country's subways; Abstract: Eating, drinking, lying down and other 'uncivilized behaviors' will be banned on all subways in the country as of April 1, 2020.; Category: news
Title: The CEO taking on the gun lobby; Abstract: Ed Stack didn't set out to be an activist. The chief executive of Dick's Sporting Goods, Mr. Stack spent his career selling fishing rods, camping gear and athletic equipment at big-box stores around the country. Dick's was founded by Mr. Stack's father in upstate New York. As a young man, Mr. Stack worked for the family business. But he didn't enjoy the experience. His father was a divisive boss who couldn't manage a supply chain, and was...; Category: finance
Title: Police: Off-Duty Dallas Officer Mistakenly Shoots, Injures Adult Son Thinking He Was An Intruder; Abstract: An off-duty Dallas officer accidentally shot and injured his adult son in DeSoto Saturday evening, police say.; Category: news
Title: He dropped the gun, walked out of the house and put his hands up. Then an officer shot him five times.; Abstract: The acting police chief in San Bernardino, Calif., said the officer's decisions "did not meet the standards held by our department."; Category: news
Title: Man left his wife nothing, and her stepchildren told her to scram; Abstract: 'His life insurance was supposed to go to my mother, but that policy was terminated a few months prior to his death due to a missed payment,' the woman's daughter told MarketWatch.; Category: finance
Title: Italian Government Confiscates Prosecco-Flavored Pringles for Ridiculous Reason; Abstract: Pringles' Prosecco & Pink Peppercorn flavor was pulled from a supermarket in Veneto, despite its legit ingredient list.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 10 Unexpected Ways To Bond With A Cat; Abstract: I was around five or six when I realized the hard way that cats and dogs are on different sides of the pet spectrum. While you could wrestle around with a dog, cats generally prefer their own space. Of course, that doesn't mean that cats are unfriendly or antisocial. Just like everyone, cats come with their own unique personalities.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Bahareh Zare Bahari: Beauty queen says she will be killed if she is deported to Iran; Abstract: An Iranian beauty queen who has spent almost two weeks inside Manila's international airport says she will be killed if she is sent back home and is seeking asylum in the Philippines.; Category: news
Title: Man dies after becoming stuck on top of 290-foot tall smokestack; Abstract: A man dangling from the top of a 290 foot smoke stack for more than six hours, apparently suspended only by his pants, died shortly after he was rescued by authorities.; Category: news
Title: St. Louis officer who said he was told to 'tone down gayness' awarded $19M; Abstract: Sgt. Keith Wildhaber sued the department and claimed that he was told to "tone down his gayness" if he wanted to be promoted.; Category: news
Title: A Chef Shares the Secret Ingredient Your Mac and Cheese Is Missing; Abstract: Want to know exactly how to make the best, homemade mac and cheese recipe? An executive chef gave us his recipe so you won't need the boxed stuff again.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 'I'm So Shy and It's Ruining My Life!'; Abstract: Give yourself room to be who you are without judgment.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Officials cringe as Trump spills sensitive details of al-Baghdadi raid; Abstract: Some details the president has revealed are inaccurate, others are classified. Officials say they worry what to put in briefings for a man with no filter.; Category: news
Title: Is It Really Faster to Fly East Than West?; Abstract: Ever wondered why your flight heading east was so much faster than your westward-bound flight? Here's the scientific reason.; Category: travel
Title: What the royals would earn in the real world; Abstract: Prince Harry, Sophie Wessex and Kate Middleton are among the members of the family whose skills and qualifications were analysed to match them with a job and salary.; Category: lifestyle
Title: How To Open a Can Without a Can Opener; Abstract: All it takes is a metal spoon and some elbow grease.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Biden on being denied communion: 'I'm a practicing Catholic, I practice my faith'; Abstract: Former Vice President and 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden refused to confirm reports that he was denied communion at a South Carolina church on Sunday because of his stance on abortion, referring to the incident as his "personal life."; Category: news
Title: The first thing 14 lottery winners have bought after finding out they were rich; Abstract: Winning the lottery may be a dream come true, but what that actually looks like is different for everyone.; Category: finance
Title: Nearly $400M worth of cocaine and marijuana intercepted by US Coast Guard; Abstract: The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it seized nearly $367 million of cocaine and about 11,000 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $10.1 million at a Florida port.; Category: news
Title: Thai King fires palace bedroom guards for adultery; Abstract: Thailand's King has fired four more palace officials, the latest in a series of high profile public dismissals that include his own royal consort.; Category: news
Title: Woman's Halloween 'devil teeth' turn into dental emergency; Abstract: The fangy fake teeth were perfect for a Halloween event, but then the night took a frightening turn when Anna Tew couldn't get them out of her mouth.; Category: health
Title: The world's largest nuclear power producer is melting down; Abstract: On the shores of the English channel in Normandy, engineers are struggling to fix eight faulty welds at a plant that's supposed to showcase France's savoir faire in nuclear power.; Category: finance
Title: Most adults over 50 would rather die than do this; Abstract: Older adults would rather die than reside in a nursing care facility, Nationwide Retirement Institute found. Even worse, they find long-term care expenses terrifying. The annual cost of a private room in a nursing home is now $102,200, according to Genworth Financial.; Category: finance
Title: Your Twin Flame Is Different Than Your Soul Mate, but Still Just as Impactful; Abstract: Some people spend their entire lives looking for their soul mate - that one person they can slurp that last spaghetti noodle with and just know.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Quebec to put immigrants seeking residency through 'values' test; Abstract: Quebec to put immigrants seeking residency through 'values' test; Category: news
Title: Elderly mother caught in a lie; Abstract: Dear Amy: My mother is 93 years old. I found out a few years ago that she was pregnant with me when she and my father got married. I was looking through some papers, and I saw that their marriage license was in a sealed envelope.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Charge dropped against teacher seen on video punching student who called him racial slur; Abstract: The decision to dismiss the case was based on a number of factors, including "the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident."; Category: news
Title: Woman Visits Stray Dog Every Day Until He Finally Lets Her Pet Him; Abstract: Carley Coca When Carley Coca saw a post on Facebook about three dogs who had been abandoned at a nearby church in Florida, she immediately knew she had to help them.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Sriracha meth bust: Police find $200M of drugs in hot sauce bottles; Abstract: Four people have been arrested after allegedly trying to sneak 400 kilograms (880 lb) of methamphetamine into Australia in hundreds of bottles of Sriracha-branded hot sauce.; Category: news
Title: 'I'm So Shy and It's Ruining My Life!'; Abstract: Give yourself room to be who you are without judgment.; Category: lifestyle
Title: McDonald's apologizes for 'Sundae Bloody Sundae' Halloween promotion; Abstract: McDonald's has canceled a promotion for a "Sundae Bloody Sundae" ice cream that was available in Portugal for Halloween.; Category: finance
Title: Woman in 'Carrie' costume totals car, terrifies first responders; Abstract: "Everyone who was a first responder thought I was dead," said Sidney Wolfe, 20, who hit a deer driving home from an event dressed as "Carrie," the character from the Stephen King novel.; Category: news
Title: Passenger Booted From Diverted Flight After Threatening Rant; Abstract: The woman was escorted off the plane and taken for a mental health evaluation.; Category: travel
Title: What I Wish My Dad Told Me More Growing Up, According to 10 Men; Abstract: There's always more to say.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Chick-fil-A Apologizes to Customers for Promoting National Sandwich Day Which Is on a Sunday; Abstract: Chick-fil-A Apologizes for Promoting National Sandwich Day; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Severe weather shifts boat stuck on Niagara Falls rocks for 101 years; Abstract: A barge that has been stuck atop some rocks in Niagara Falls for more than 100 years has finally shifted as a result of severe weather.; Category: news
Title: Shia LaBeouf Thanks Officer Who Arrested Him in 2017 for 'Changing My Life' in Emotional Speech; Abstract: Shia LaBeouf Thanks Cop Who Arrested Him for 'Changing My Life'; Category: movies
Title: She fought for human rights on a tiny island that banned guns. Then she was shot dead.; Abstract: Rachelle Bergeron had been the only prosecutor in Yap, a Micronesian island about 550 miles southwest of Guam.; Category: news
Title: Meghan Markle's estranged brother says 'she is only in Buckingham Palace with Harry because of her dad' after he 'paid for her education and fancy clothes'; Abstract: Earlier this year, Thomas Markle Sr. leaked a private letter Meghan sent to him to the Mail on Sunday.; Category: lifestyle
Title: The Ukrainian orphan at the center of an adoption scandal says she's a teenager, and none of her adoptive parents' claims are true; Abstract: Natalia Grace Barnett at down with. Dr. Phil for a segment in which she discusses her former adoptive parents' claims that she's an adult.; Category: news
Title: The Sante Fe High School massacre suspect isn't fit to stand trial and will get psychiatric treatment, attorney says; Abstract: Dimitrios Pagourtzis is accused of killing eight students and two teachers at his Texas high school last year.; Category: news
Title: Eminem Says He Sides With Chris Brown Over Rihanna Assault on Alleged Leaked Song; Abstract: Leaked audio of Eminem allegedly rapping that he'd side with Chris Brown over Rihanna assault is making rounds on social media and fans are not happy.; Category: music
Title: Man dies after stabbing in Maryland Popeyes; fight over chicken sandwich, sources say; Abstract: A man was fatally stabbed Monday evening while inside a Maryland Popeyes following a fight over a chicken sandwich, a source told Fox News.; Category: news
Title: 'The Little Mermaid Live!': TV Review; Abstract: ABC's "hybrid format" live performance of the Disney classic spent more time replaying moments from the original film than staging a grand musical spectacular.; Category: tv
Title: 'OK, boomer': 25-year-old politician fends off heckler with viral quip; Abstract: Responding to a heckler on the floor of the New Zealand Parliament, Chlöe Swarbrick, 25, quipped: "OK, boomer," in millennial fashion.; Category: news
Title: A man dies in Hawaii after falling into a lava tube in his yard; Abstract: An elderly man died after falling into a lava tube on his property in Hilo, Hawaii, police announced on Wednesday.; Category: news
Title: LA firefighter banked $360,010 in overtime pay in one year, city audit finds; Abstract: Eighteen employees of the Los Angeles Fire Department earned more than $200,000 in overtime pay last fiscal year, with one firefighter making $360,010 in overtime alone, according to an audit released Wednesday by City Controller Ron Galperin.; Category: news
Title: Kanye West Gets Ridiculed for Serving Sad, Soggy Pancakes at Expensive "Brunchella"; Abstract: On November 1, some who attended "Brunchella," a Kanye West performance in Louisiana, paid $55 for a brunch add-on and they were not happy with the results.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Kate & Meghan Head to Separate Events in Gorgeous Blue Outfits; Abstract: Kate wore sapphire earrings that belonged to Diana.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Las Vegas adopts ban on sleeping, camping on streets, sidewalks; Abstract: Opponents say the measure unfairly criminalizes the city's homeless population.; Category: news
Title: Police Surprise Woman Who Anonymously Baked Pizzelle Cookies for Years in Heartwarming Video; Abstract: Once the Medford Police learned the identity of the mystery woman who baked for them, AKA the "Pizzelle Lady," they surprised her in this sweet viral video.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Orangutan granted legal personhood moves to Florida; Abstract: An orangutan granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina is now hanging in Florida. Sandra, who is 33, was born in Germany and spent 25 years at the at the Buenos Aires Zoo before arriving at the Center for Great Apes in the Sunshine State on Tuesday.; Category: news
Title: 'You're not a serial killer, right?' victim text messaged man before she died; Abstract: In testimony, it was revealed that Sarah Butler asked accused murderer Khalil Wheeler-Weaver if he was a serial killer hours before she died.; Category: news
Title: Iowan convicted of murder claims his life-sentence was served once he died, was revived in medical emergency. The court disagrees.; Abstract: An Iowa convicted of murder was rushed from prison to the hospital where his heart was restarted five times. Now he claims he should be freed; Category: news
Title: Kristen Stewart Just Made Leather Bras a Thing, and We're All For It; Abstract: Leave it to Kristen Stewart to look like a total badass while promoting her new film Charlie's Angels.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Be more mindful and skip the oversharing: 5 things introverts can teach people; Abstract: Introverts know that their lives are "rich and full."; Category: lifestyle
Title: Trump impeachment inquiry, Camp Fire one year later, Black Friday preview: 5 things to know Friday; Abstract: Will Mick Mulvaney testify in the ongoing impeachment inquiry, remembering the Camp Fire one year later and more news to start your Friday morning.; Category: news
Title: This is the country's least favorite flavor of Skittles; Abstract: Red reigns supreme.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: My Third Husband Is 102 Years Old. Here's What Our Marriage Is Like.; Abstract: When I was 65 years old, I married a man 25 years my senior. This was thethird marriage for both of us, and he was almost 90. Mutual friends introducedus ― his best friend was married to my best friend ― because we were bothwidows, and apparently I needed more of a social life.It started out innocently as two friends hanging out. He liked to take me outto fancy Los Angeles restaurants. He had his handyman fix everything for me,and he brought his...; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Z-Man Games Ricochet Robots; Brand: Z-Man Games; Review: I give this toy three stars for learning, but that is only because it doesn't have facts for you to learn like "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?". This game does, however, teach you how to think about things in different ways. Without this skill, the player is doomed to lose. I was introduced to this game with the description, "It's everyone's turn, all the time." This was enough to pique my interest, and I am glad that it did. The point of the game is to maneuver a robot onto a targeted square on the board in the least number of moves. The trick is that the robots can only move in straight lines forward, backward, left, or right, and they can not stop until they hit something else. The trick, oftentimes, is to use more robots to maneuver the targeted robot onto the targeted square. The difficulty is in getting trapped into thinking that this is always necessary. With surprising regularity, it seems that a 23-move, three-robot solution is all you can find, until someone points out a five-move, single-robot solution. With the addition of house rules (like color-specific walls, which come in this latest version), additional obstacles, dead squares (where the robot gets stuck for X number of rounds, etc.), this game has virtually endless replay potential. The game even has the potential for handicapping players by not allowing them to use one robot for each round or by limiting them to bouncing off of at least one wall, etc., making it more fun for players of different skill levels. My wife, who is not a gamer like me, even enjoys this game, which speaks to its broader audience. Finally, it is important to note that this is a great party game, able to be played by as many people as can see the board. A truly great family game, and indispensable for those with family game night. Harkius; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Kick 'n Play Piano Gym; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: As the parent of a newborn, I find this pretty helpful for Tummy Time. (Not so helpful for laying LT on the back, though, since LT freaks out about it when I do that.) When I lay LT down, LT looks at the patterns (although it's unlikely that they actually sink in, since they're closer to the face than 8-12 inches, which is the butter zone for things that can be seen at this age). There's not a lot of kicking being done yet, so the piano isn't especially active. What I find particularly nice about this toy, though, is that it can somewhat grow with LT, and be used for different things as LT grows up. (I do worry that the "mirror" will give LT some kind of body dysmorphic issue, since it's closer to a fun house mirror than a normal mirror, but, we'll have to wait until talking to see.) When LT gets older, 3-9 months, for example, and kicking starts, I am sure that the piano will be great fun. It's nice to have toys that so playfully teach cause and effect. There are a few improvements that I'd like to see with it. First, the bar that the toys hang on is static. You can pull it off, but you can't rotate it to be any closer to the ground. This is kind of a bummer, since LT likes to reach for the toys but just...can't...quite...grab them. Also, the assembly was somewhat more complicated than I would have expected. Although it is nicely solid once it's been assembled, getting the cloth strips that hold the mat in place through the holes in the plastic was a bit of a pain. All things considered, it's a pretty nice toy. It seems durable enough (for now) to grow with my baby, so I'll keep it around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pointing Fingers Game; Brand: Hasbro; Review: See the headline. If you've somehow managed to never play the game, people take turns thinking of things that they have never done, then they say them. Like, "Never have I ever taken the last beer from the fridge." Then, everyone who has has to take a drink, and you revel in your shared miscreantism and embarrassment about your poor judgment, your lack of manners, and your misdemeanors (and felonies, in the right company). This is essentially that. Except that there is no alcohol (which lowers the fun factor ten-fold) and the questions range from the passably entertaining ("Have you ever gambled with a fart and lost?") to the banal and insipid ("Have you ever posted a picture of what you're about to eat to social media?"). For taking a beloved bonding and drinking experience and reducing it to an insipid party game, you get 1 star Hasbro. Poorly done. Go raid some other territory for your uninventive, boring games.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Nici Wonderland Doll: Miniclara the Ballerina; Brand: Neat-Oh; Review: This is a nice doll, all things considered. I haven't put it through the laundry machine, yet, but I did handwash it, and nothing very bad seems to have happened. The doll itself is large and quite soft. It is light enough that even children younger than the recommended age of 2 years can easily lift it. The only hiccup is the little cat that comes with it will go right down a small child's throat. So, watch for that, and maybe prejudicially remove it from the package. Other than that, a nice toy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Playskool Tumble n Glow Froggio; Brand: Playskool; Review: This is a fun toy, and I think that the age listed on it (12 months+) is a little hard to justify. It does come with some balls that a child who was REALLY determined MIGHT be able to get entirely in their mouth, but there's no way that they could swallow it. You feed the balls to the frog, who makes fun noises and ribbits. Good toy. LT really seems to like it. One side note. This promises to help teach your child about cause and effect. I have two thoughts on that. First, EVERYTHING is going to teach your child cause and effect, unless you live in some nightmarish place where Newtonian physics don't apply. So advertising that on a toy is like saying, "It's made of matter!" Well, duh. But so is everything else. (Except bosons. But you can usually say, "Except bosons" about any rule and be correct.) Second, it actually teaches a child about cause and effect POORLY. After a child (or me) puts the ball in the frog's mouth, it makes noise for a while. Then, apropos of nothing, it makes noise again. That's going to confuse someone who doesn't understand cause and DELAYED effect. Which is a much more advanced concept, especially when combined with IMMEDIATE effect. (As a side note, my SO suggested, "Apparently, the upper age limit is past your early 40's, so it's good for everyone!". I guess I had too much fun "testing" it out for LT.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Transformers Asia Kids Day Protectobots Emergency Response 3-Pack; Brand: Transformers; Review: I'm not a Transformers collector. I'm not a Transformers fanboy. Truth be told, I don't even remember these characters. They kind of sound like the menagerie of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters in that they were basically made to sell figurines. I actually didn't have any Transformers, come to think of it. I had Go-Bots instead. :-/ (Wikipedia tells me that Go-Bots were actually the original Transformers, not the cheap, shoddy knockoff that I remembered.) Now, I am a parent who wanted to have a toy for a kid. That's the perspective that I write this review from. As people have noted, the transforming is a little tricky, but doable. I've not had the palpable issues with durability that people have mentioned, but I haven't subjected them to the kinds of misery that were involved in the Great He-Man Massacre of 1988, where I destroyed thousands of dollars worth of action figures and Barbie dolls. Maybe they will not survive if you toss them up into the air and smack them with a stick. I don't guess I need to find out. That said, the motorcycle is really small. Like, choke a small child small. I know that these say 5 and up, but really, who pays attention to that when you pick out toys for your kid? Overall, they're decent, not spectacular, toys. They'll get played with and eventually forgotten. It's a pretty decent value, though, as you get three toys, essentially, for the price of two. Worth getting on that basis, but probably not going to be LT's favorite.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Little Pony Friendship Magic Glamour Glow Rarity; Brand: My Little Pony; Review: LT loves this. There is galloping, walking, prancing, and even flying (when LT throws it across the room). The fun color changing lights are good for toddlers, as well. The age suggestion is a bit old, provided you keep the small parts away. A younger kid will be perfectly happy with the pony alone. Probably good for Bronies as well. It's allegedly a new one, so it might get you into a few exclusive Brony parties. :-/; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thomas & Friends Fisher-Price My First, Bubble Delivery Thomas; Brand: Thomas & Friends; Review: Here's a set of "suggestions" from the manufacturer. 1) Walk 10-15 steps with no bubbles to prime it. 2) Walk in a slow, steady line. 3) Make sure that the rear wheels stay in contact with the ground at all times. This is a toy for an 18 month old. How many toddlers do YOU envision following directions like that? Unless they're on grownup doses of mood stabilizers, the answer is zero. Kids don't play that way. They run. They start, and stop. And start again. And stop. Go! Stop. Go. Stop! Go go gogogogogogo. Stop! That kind of thing makes very few bubbles. Which defeats most of the purpose. And once it DOES make some bubbles, the toddler will let go and chase bubbles. Which originate about five inches off of the ground and then pop three seconds after they come out. Because they go straight down, and toddler has zero chance to catch them. Very frustrating. So this would be fine as a non-bubbling toy for kids who like trains, right? Wrong! My child is 2. And not a small 2. People constantly think that my child is 3 or 4. And my child has difficulty pushing this. You see, the back wheels act as the pumping mechanism to draw in air and bubble liquid, as well as the pump to push them out again in a magically combined, spherical (sort of) form. But to get it to do that, you have to push. Really hard. As an adult, I'm surprised how hard you have to push. (You can do it, but it isn't easy.) So after a little trial and effort, LT stops pushing and just drags it behind. No bubbles. Which makes Thomas sad. About the only way that this is a good toy is if you have a patient, strong four year old who wants to push this thing while toddler futilely tries to catch the occasional bubble it makes. (You can push it yourself, but the handle is about a foot and a half long. Which means that you have DESTROY your back pushing it around hunched over like Quasimodo, trying to entertain a toddler. Just go buy some bubbles. Or borrow a 4 year old from the daycare.); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dinotrux Mechazoic Era 6-Pack Bundle; Brand: Mattel; Review: I haven't seen the cartoons. Neither has LT. That's fine, you don't really need to, as long as you have an imagination. I do want to note that they are essentially a rip off of DinoBots and Constructicons from the Transformers line of toys and cartoons. I was kind of surprised at the quality of these. First, they are die cast metal. Which means that they're like the Matchbox cars of my childhood. Naturally, there are good (in that they are sturdy and solid) and bad (in that they are heavy and they hurt if your child throws them at someone or something) aspects to this. As others have pointed out, they are rather limited in their range of motion. It's not so noticeable on TonTon, but for T-Rux, Skya, and especially TurTool, the limited motion does detract from their play value. Most of them roll fine for me. Other reviewers seem to have had problems with this, but I'm not sure how far they expected they would go. If you expect them to travel a few inches when pushed (more than 2, less than 8), you probably won't be disappointed, even with the smaller ones. That said, if you want toys that are dinosaur trucks, this is a good bet to please the audience. That said, they are toys for children, not for collectors.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Pretty Petals Flower Watering Can - Pretend Play Toy; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Consistent with the fact that it is a watering can for children to use, it is not aggressively sized. It's reasonably pretty. It is made of one solid piece, which is a mixed blessing. It means that the handle is unlikely to come off if the load gets too heavy, but it also means that it is inflexible with regard to the angle of the handle. And It doesn't collapse for storage at all. Although the flower diverter at the front of the spout LOOKS like it might unscrew and come off, it doesn't. Which is bad design in two ways. First, by looking like it does and not doing it, and secondly for not doing it. Either alone would have been bad.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Intex Hippo Play Center with Built-in Slide, 87" x 74" x 34", for Ages 2+; Brand: Intex; Review: In theory, this is a great idea. It should be just a plain swimming pool with a little slide. But it doesn't work great. It leaks air. Dramatically. There doesn't seem to be any way to hook up a manual pump to this. At least not that I can figure out. It took me about three hours to blow it up, and it cost me a massive headache. LT loved it! Loved it with all of the love that LT has. For about ten minutes. Then it got boring. Started leaking air. And it got relegated to the toys that we're going to use probably a tiny handful of times. Also, the age range where this will be a fun toy doesn't really run past 5-6 years old. It's a wading pool, at best. And that's assuming that you manage to get it to hold water for a while.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ALEX Discover Button Art; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: This is a great toy for kids around 16 - 30 months. The buttons are easy to handle and they're difficult to swallow. Easy to clean, bright, easy to differentiate colors, so you can help teach them to your children. There are around 10 different patterns, and once your children master the patterns, you can start to substitute them and see if you get new pretty pictures. A couple of the pictures are a little weird. The cover dinosaur, for example, seems to have wings or something. The fish that is in here is a sunfish, which is just kind of weird and creepy. But, mostly they're okay. There's a house, a ladybug, an umbrella, a tree, etc. Most of them are pretty clearly discernible on the image products.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ALEX Jr. Tots Sticker Pictures; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: The concept is great, but the execution is a bit lacking. For example, some of the stickers are a little small and difficult for little fingers to remove without tearing (and subsequent sadness). In addition, while we generally are big fans of more stickers (more stickers = more good), but when you can't really make a picture that is coherent because there are too many stickers, that doesn't go over well. (Yes, I understand the concept of not using all of the stickers on one picture, that's a lot harder to explain well to a 3 year old.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ALEX Toys Little Hands String and Beep; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: The cars are solid and seem to be one piece. The wooden "needle" fits nicely through the holes in the cars, and there doesn't seem to be any difficulty in doing the threading. The project isn't very exciting, but the cars are relatively fun to play with.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lil Lockitz Pets Set; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: There's nothing really that great about this product. The general concept is that you can make lockets, keychains, and a wristband that have clear plastic capsules that you can use to enclose items that come with the kit. These include tiny little animal stickers (of some sort), some paper punchouts, and some backgrounds. Most of these are pretty banal. If each kid had a kit, it might entertain them for one rainy afternoon. It also includes a stencil you can use to razor out photographs (or geometric designs, if you're into that sort of thing) and enclose them in the locket instead. You don't need the "crimper", you can close them (and open them for reuse) by hand. That said, the kit seems to artificially limit your fun. Sure you can kind of make lockets that contain the items the kit contains. But it is a lot more fun to put other things in there instead, like a spider or a vial of some neglected tropical disease. Because not every time but just often enough, the little plastic enclosure will pop open, letting whatever was inside escape. So don't put anything irreplaceable in the locket (like the galaxy on Orion's Belt), unless you superglue it closed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ALEX Toys Little Hands Cupcake Craft; Brand: ALEX Toys; Review: Gave this to a toddler. LT was very amused for a couple of hours (total, not continuous). Many fun crafts. We used too sticky of a tape, and couldn't reuse the products (particularly the doll cutouts). You might have better luck making a few extra "dolls" from cereal box cardboard using the dolls as templates, otherwise you have extra parts. Naturally, since LT is a toddler, the results weren't as pretty as on the package. Hence, grownup disappointment colored point of view of product. Why can't you ever make things that are as pretty as a grownup, LT? Why?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Imaginext Blackbeard's Lair; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: The toddler that tested this was about 2.5 years old. That's admittedly a bit younger than the recommended age for this (3-8), but close enough that I though that it would be more fun. Toddler-in-question engages in a lot of imagination play with toy animals (and markers, and food, and...you get the idea. Imagination is fun!) But this didn't really seem to spark imagination play. The cannon was fun to shoot at people, and the crocodile that lives underneath was a big hit. But it wasn't really all that popular, and hasn't been played with in the few weeks since. There are a lot of moving parts, here. The crossbones move. The mandible on the skull moves. The eyepatch lifts and a harpoon shoots out. It seems like there is a lot to play with here, but...it wasn't really that interesting. It's possible that the TIQ was a bit too young for this. The suggested age range is really, really wide, and the low end seems to have been set by the industry-standard, "Well...small parts, so we can't say younger than 3 or we'll get sued...so 3 it is!" rather than by actually taking this into focus groups (i.e., the Fisher-Price corporate daycare center).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sonic Collector Series 3" Figure Pack; Brand: TOMY; Review: ... but you still kind of feel like if you wanted to, you could use it as a toy. But no. The legs on these wee beasties are almost impossible to get to sit right so that they will stand up on their own. And if you play around with them a bit, they get really loose, and then they'll fall right out from underneath the figurine. These aren't toys. They're meant to be put in a collection and stared at across the room, but never touched. So, be warned.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Little Pony Guardians of Harmony Shadowbolts Pony and Cockatrice Figures; Brand: My Little Pony; Review: This isn't a toy. It's a collectible figurine. As a gentle adult, I tried to adjust its feet. And its tail popped off. This isn't a toy, and I wish that things that aren't for children would stop being marketed as though they were. If you are an adult, then sure, pick this up and gently, lovingly place it on a shelf with all your other ponies, to be touched only while you're dusting it. Or whatever you do with your ponies. But, if you want this for your kid...keep looking.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Franklin Sports Disney Frozen Size 3 Soft Foam Air Tech Soccer Ball - Kristoff/Sven; Brand: Franklin Sports; Review: It's a good size for toddlers. The skin is relatively padded, which makes it a good football to use to learn to GET hit BY a ball. Not the greatest tool to learn striking or even dribbling or ball trapping, since the padding reduces elasticity. The motif is decent. But I have to explain to my child why Olaf has been colored black instead of white (which can make for a good opportunity to address privilege with my child). The snow golem (no idea the name, because Frozen is kind of a screwed up movie if you think about it for more than three seconds, so I haven't watched it) is also black, which I think is also off from the movie representation. I'm kind of surprised to see Disney dilute their trademark in this way (muddling the representation can actually make it harder to enforce trademark infringement). It's a little underinflated, but you can presumably fix that up with a needle and a pump. Haven't tried, since I lack both. But, presumably. Fun toy, though. LT liked it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Little Pony Guardians of Harmony Pinkie Pie Figure; Brand: My Little Pony; Review: This isn't a toy. It's a collectible figurine. As a gentle adult, I tried to adjust its feet. It kind of can't stand up regularly. The feet just keep falling out from under it. And its tail popped off. The chicken doesn't stay in the cannon, and it doesn't really shoot. The hat doesn't fit properly. The other thing, no idea what it is, doesn't seem to fit on anything anywhere. This isn't a toy, and I wish that things that aren't for children would stop being marketed as though they were. If you are an adult, then sure, pick this up and gently, lovingly place it on a shelf with all your other ponies, to be touched only while you're dusting it. Or whatever you do with your ponies. But, if you want this for your kid...keep looking.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 42 Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set, Tints; Brand: Tegu; Review: I've seen these a few places, ad always been super impressed by their design, simplicity. And beauty. But the price! So when they showed up as a promotional item, I leapt at the chance to get them. I am soooooooo glad I didn't purchase them. The magnets are not located at even intervals. Many of the longer pieces only have them in the ends. The magnets are weak, so it's hard to make anything you can PLAY with. Eventually, I realized....these aren't toys for playing. They're toys for pretending your kid is a minimalist hipster genius. And I'm going to assume that the parents of any kid who has these are bad people, more interested in appearances than providing their children a fun and educational toy. As a side note, the amount of packaging is ridiculous. Tl,dr: weak, poorly placed magnets make these impossible for play. For sculptures only.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Villas Kalimba; City: Playa Samara Province of Guanacaste; Review: The best place for vacation in Samara. Right next to the beach, nice grocery store, internet cafe and surfing school. While it right across the road from the beach and the main street of Samara with pubs and restaurants (I recommend Gusto), it's very quiet, private and relaxing. There is secure parking place, although you don't need to move your car, because everything is so close. Villas has fully equipped kitchen, one or more bedrooms (each with bathrooms), private terrace with dinner table, relaxing chairs and hammock. The pool and jacuzzi is right outside the villa's door. Villa is cleaned on daily basis by the housekeeping stuff and its warm design made us feel like at home. The owner Roberto is and extremely gracious host and other Kalimba's stuff couldn't have been more kind or helpful. They did everything possible to make our stay in Samara relaxing and joyful. We'll be definitely back to Villas Kalimba on our next trip to Costa Rica. Thank you Roberto for our unforgettable stay in Samara:); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Empire Elysees; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Excellent location (central, but quiet), about 500 meters walking to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées. The closest Metro is Ternes , which is only a few blocks away from the hotel. The staff were friendly, helpful and English speaking. The double room wasn't so big, but comfortable and clean, was equipped with the TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, wardrobe, tea and coffee making facilities and free Wi-Fi access. Our room had a balcony and nice and very clean bathroom. Right down the street was a mini-market, and couple of bars, restaurants and brasseries, where you can have breakfast or brunch. The easiest way to get to the hotel is to take Air France shuttle from the airport, which arrives to the Arc de Triomphe. We'll definitely come back to the hotel on our next visit in Paris!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sol Palmeras; City: Varadero Matanzas Province Cuba; Review: Great resort! It has big main building and a lot of bungalows around. The hotel is all inclusive. Good selection of food. The snack bar is open from 7:30 during the day, and at the evening you can book a place at one of the restaurants. The hotel offers all the services you want on the vacation: spa, post office, small grocery store, souvenir shop, little library. Good location. You can take free train shuttle to the shopping center or tourist bus (10 CUC per day per person), that will take you to Varadero. The hotel has great big private sandy beach, palm gardens, rest areas and hammocks, children area. The hotel organizes entertainment programs near the pool during the day and at the lobby at evening. For my taste, it's old fashion, therefore I didn't participate. The resort staff is great, English speaking, professional and they do everything in their power to make you fill comfortable and very welcome. We asked for a quiet room, therefore we've got the room with bungalows view. The standard room at the main building is nice, big, clean and has a balcony. The room with pool view can be noisy during the day. Bungalows are more private, but ask for the bungalow that close to the beach and the main building, because all the facilities and restaurants inside or near the main building. Great relaxing vacation and good value for money. Definitely will come back soon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Palma Royale; City: Bocas Town Isla Colon Bocas del Toro Province; Review: Great relaxing hotel in Bocas. Central, but quiet location - right at the end of the main street. Close to nice grocery store, many restaurants and water taxi boats pier. We stayed in the suite on the 4-th floor that had great ocean view, large balcony with table and comfortable relaxing chairs. The suite has a nice spacious leaving room with flat TV with satellite channels, bedroom with big twin bed, wardrobe and safe. Rooms are air conditioned and their warm design made us feel like at home. The suite has a full equipped kitchen, large private bathroom, free Wi-Fi access and it cleaned on daily basis by the housekeeping stuff. You can order from the menu breakfast included in the price (we would prefer the buffet breakfast) and have free drinks during the happy hour. The hotel also offers laundry services at 5$ per a big bag. During our stay the elevator was broken, but it didn't bother us. Manager Melissa was very nice, helpful and did everything in her power to make our stay in Bocas very comfortable. The other staff is a little slow, but nice, helpful and English speaking. You can make the reservation to the daily tours at the hotel reception or take a taxi boat from the pier only for a couple of dollars to the Bastimentos (where the Red Frog beach is located) or other islands. I recommend the Jampan company. We took a tour to the Zapatilla National Park with the Jampan and we enjoyed it a lot! We'll definitely come back soon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Auriga; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: Great location, central but quiet. 2 minutes walk from the Central Railway Station and the metro. About half an hour easy walk to the Duomo. There is a large underground parking close to the hotel. Nice, comfortable and clean rooms, although the décor is bit old fashion. English speaking friendly and helpful stuff. Good value for money. Nice cozy dining room, but poor choice of breakfast. Expensive bar facilities and the internet access. You can hear underground, but it's not very disturbing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bradford Elysees Astotel; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Great location. Quiet but central. Couple of minutes walking to the Champs Elysees. On the way there is two metro stations Franklin Roosevelt and Saint Philippe du Roule. There are major attractions, restaurants and cafes close to the hotel. Very polite, helpful and English speaking staff. They did everything in their power to make our stay unforgettable. Antique decorated building, equipped with elevator. Comfortable, spacious, very clean room and bathroom. Large flat TV with cable, safe and tea and coffee amenities in the room. Nice breakfast and open snack bar during the day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Aria; City: Nice French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Nice is a very good point to start you exploration of the French Riviera. The hotel located at central, but quiet neighborhood, about 5 minute walk to the beach and Promenade des Anglais , 2 blocks from the Railway station and about 10 minute walk from the Old town, where you can find many nice shops, cafes and restaurants. During the day there is big market at the Old town and at the evening it turns into recreation area. The hotel located at the antique building, that has recently been renovated. In front of the hotel there is a little park and the underground parking ( 25E per day ). It's possible to park at the Railway station. It's couple of minutes walk and much cheaper. We parked the car there and only moved it for the last night to the parking in front of the hotel. The owners and the staff is so friendly, helpful and English speaking. They gave us a lot of tips of points of interests in Nice and other cities on the Riviera, restaurants and kindly helped us with all our requests. The ordered the twin room on the booking.com site, cause all double room were occupied. We asked to combine the beds together and when we got to the hotel, we were nicely surprised that our request was completed. We arrived late at night and the receptionist offered us a free mineral water. It was very lovely. The room was quite spacious and comfortable, with big window and the view on the little park, was equipped with the TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, wardrobe, little fridge ,brilliant clean bathroom and free Wi-Fi access. Right down the street was a grocery store, couple of bars, restaurants and brasseries, where you can have breakfast or brunch. Two mornings we had the breakfast at the hotel and it consisted of many choices and the food was fresh and tasty. Only minus I found it's lack of tea and coffee making facilities, but it's free at the machine in the dining room. The wi-fi signal was low at our room. But the signal al the lobby is good and there is free computer stand their. The easiest way to get to the hotel from the airport is by car or taxi (about 30E). Book this hotel in advance, cause when we arrived it was fully booked! I would highly recommend this hotel and we'll definitely come back to the hotel on our next visit to Riviera!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Salvators; City: Bruges West Flanders Province; Review: It seems like nice, family small hotel at the heart of old town of Brugge. Easy to find, close to the parking, close to shopping area , restaurants, points of interest in the old town. Good choice for breakfast. English speaking stuff. Tea/coffee equipment and fridge in the room. Very nice cat Speedy lives at the lobby near the fireplace:) Little minus - low Wi-Fi.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Herbergh Amsterdam Airport; City: Badhoevedorp Haarlemmermeer North Holland Province; Review: Very clean room, good wi-fi, nice choice for breakfast, free shuttle from the airport. English speaking helpful stuff. Good value for money. Would definitely recommend for the night stay close to your flight.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prinsen Hotel; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: Great central location, but at the quiet street. Close to the Leidse plein and Museum plein. Very nice and helpful English speaking stuff. Clean room. Good choice for breakfast. The dining room facing the nice garden. Old decore. The hotel definitly needs a renovation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annia Park Hotel Venice Airport; City: Tessera Veneto; Review: Great location. Couple of minutes by car from the airport. Free shuttle to / from the airport or the bus station to Venice. Very clean, specious room. We had two level room with the sitting area on the second. Very good choice for breakfast, maybe the best we had in Italy. Breakfast served from 4:30. The dinner available till 22:30. Very convenient for early/late traveltravelers. Very nice English speaking stuff. Free parking lot near the hotel. Great choice for the night before/ after the flight or for exploring Venice and susurroundings. Be aware of high taxi prices from the airport to the hotel, although it's just two minutes ride. Use the hotel shuttle. Minus - Low wi-fi. We would prefer the water at the shower more hot,especially at moning. Everything else is great and I definitly recomend this hotel!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bisanzio; City: Venice Veneto; Review: Great location! 100 meter from the boat station,so it's very convenient to get there with the luggage. Couple of minutes to San Marco. Ten minutes to Rialto Bridge. Very clean spacious room decorated in Venetian style. Very polite, helpful English speaking stuff. Our room was on the 5 th floor overlooking on the Venice roofs. Great view! There is an elevator in the hotel, that is not obvious in Venice. Little minus - at our room Wi-Fi was low. The breakfast is standard, not a lot of choices, but it didn't ruin our experience at all. I would definitely recommend this hotel!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infinity Hotel St Peter; City: Rome Lazio; Review: Great location! This modern renovated hotel located on the quiet street. Block from the metro station, two blocks from Vatican City and 5 minutes from Saint Peter's Square, 15 minutes walk from Trastevere neighborhood. The rooms has modern design, parquet floor, flat screen TV, tea/coffee equipment, safe. The rooms specious and perfectly clean. Good Wi-Fi signal in the room. Very nice English speaking stuff. Little minus: Soundproof between the rooms not so good. Breakfast is nice, but if you get up late, some of the choices run out. I definitely recommend this hotel. We'll be back!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boutique Hotel Las Islas; City: Fuengirola Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: From the beginning we were very welcome by such a helpful staff, which proposed us drinks while our luggage were taken to our room. The room were decorated with such great taste, every detail were taken care of. Every room has a balcony facing beautiful garden. The breakfast served by the pool. Such a excellent choice for breakfast. There is great restaurant at the hotel. The food was amazing. At the weekend there is live music at the restaurant were you can spend romantic evening. The location is very convenient. Close to the beach, Fuengirola centera, beautiful Benalmadena port, Mijas and other attractions on Costa del Sol. Omar and the hotel team made everything in their power to make us feel home. Probably the best place we stayed in Europe. Thank you so much for your hospitality! We can’t wait to our next visit!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Punta Sur; City: Tarifa Costa de la Luz Andalucia; Review: Great location. 5 minutes by car to Tarifa old town, 1 hour to Cadiz, 20 minutes to Gibraltar. A lot of beautiful beaches could be reached in couple of minutes. A bit hard to find by GPS. Use Google Maps or Wase. All rooms located in little houses surrounded by beautiful private gardens. Little paradise. The room was very clean, specious ,well designed, equipped with the air conditioner , fan , TV and DVD. There is luck of English channels, but it wasn't a problem. Free Wi-Fi available in the rooms. The Hotel has large swimming pool with waterfall and the tennis court. Dining and bar area very big with beautiful veranda outside. There is excellent choice for breakfast. The hotel also offers lunch and dinner. Private parking is available on site close to the rooms. The stuff is very friendly and helpful. Will be definitely back!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Eurostars Plaza Mayor; City: Madrid; Review: Located at the heart of Madrid, close to metro and every interest point. Lots of cafes, restaurants and shops near the hotel. Modern design hotel with nice very clean rooms with soundproof and the air conditioning Very nice welcoming English speaking staff. Free good Wi-Fi in the room. Little minus was the lack of the kettle.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guadalpin Suites; City: Marbella Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: Excellent location. Couple of minutes walking to the beautiful beach and the promenade, 15 minutes to the old town, 10 minutes by car to Puerto Banus. Specious clean room, equipped kitchen, balcony, very good Wi-Fi, cable TV with English channels. There is a big pool and free parking. Great for couples or family. A little minus is that It's suites, not a hotel. The reception open till 20:00. The maintenance till 19:00. So if you need something, ask for it when you check in.. Everything else is great!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Marble Arch London; City: London England; Review: Great location, incredible service. This small boutique hotel has great location. The Marble Arch metro station on the central line, Oxford Street and the Hyde Park is just around the corner. The service is incredible, the staff is amazing, so nice and helpful. They did everything in their power to make us feel welcome. We stayed in double room that was quite spacious, perfectly cleaned twice a day. The room has air conditioning, floor heating at the bathroom, flat TV, tea/coffee equipment, safe and portable smart phone were you can surf on the internet. Wi-Fi is available in the room and other areas in the hotel and free of charge. Complementary water and fruits were waiting for us on the arrival. The newspaper was left every morning at our door. The breakfast has a great choice from the menu. All we ordered were tasty, fresh and perfectly cooked. Thank you very much for such a pleasant vacation. Definitely will back soon!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Isrotel Yam Suf Hotel; City: Eilat Southern District; Review: The hotel is located in the more quiet area of Eilat. 2 minutes from the Red Sea beach. Walking distance from the Coral Beach, which great for diving. 5 minutes by car to the center and the promenade. There are pools, gym, spa and nice shops in the hotel. Great choice of Mediterranean dishes for breakfast and dinner. Free wi-fi available in all areas. Free private parking. Rooms are lately renovated, spacious, clean, equiped with flat TV, free tea/coffee, fridge, safe and private balcony. Some rooms has private patio with the direct access to the pool. Great for couple or family vacation. Excellent choice for the vacation in Eilat!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gran Hotel Sol y Mar; City: Calpe Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: Best Location, right on the beach. Walking distance to the old town, shops and restaurants. The room with the sea view was very spacious, equipped with two huge beds, sitting area, pretty big fridge, closet, flat TV with english channels and the safe. The bathroom was very spacious also, devided to the toilet, shower and the bathroom areas. They even provide the electronic weight, that is quite tricky considering the excellent food served at the hotel.The view from the balcony on the beach and Penon de Ifach rock is spectacular! There is huge choice of everything you ever wanted for breakfast, including champagne. We didn't reserved the half board, cause we prefered to try the restaurants in the city, but I'm sure that the dinner is delicious not less, than the breakfast. The Wi-Fi is free and very fast. The pool is very clean with great view on the beach and sea. You can take the towels and the sunscreen from the pool and just get down to the beach. There is an underground public parking at the hotel, that costs 18 euro per day. The hotel guests get the discount of 4 euros per day. Pay the parking at the office and not in the automatic machine to get the discount. There is no kettle in the room, but that's the only minor minus. It's was our first, but not the last stay in Sol Y Mar. Excellent choice in Calpe!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Abaco Altea; City: Altea Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: We had very pleasant stay at Hotel Abaco. Excellent location, at the heart of Altea: the old town just around the corner, 5 minutes walking to the promenade and the beach, surrounded by many shops and great restaurants. The hotel is located on the tiny street, so it bit hard to find at the first time ,so use your navigator. But once found, you will never want to leave this hotel. The hotel has private garage that need a reservation and cost 11 euro per day. You can easily drop off your luggage and park the car at the public parking nearby. The atmosphere is very welcoming. Starting from the champagne and strawberries at the arrival and during our whole stay at the hotel .The owner of the hotel, Silvia and Julie are very kind, helpful and made us feel at home. We got very helpful tips from the hosts at the hotel and they took care the reservations as well. The breakfast was nice with great service. Good choice of bread, croissant, cheese, meat, eggs, coffee, tea and orange juice. In the afternoon there are cakes, coffee and tea on the house at the dining room. Every room in the hotel has its unique beautiful design: Moulin Rouge, Copa America, Provence, etc. The rooms are bit small, but have everything you need: comfortable bed, TV, closet, safe, minibar and Jacuzzi in the bathroom. Perfectly cleanness and the warm design made us feel like at home. I would highly recommend the hotel for the perfect stay in Altea.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kimera; City: Piazza Armerina Province of Enna Sicily; Review: Perfect location in the heart of the old town, near beautiful Duomo, 5 minutes drive from Villa Romana del Casale, close to main attraction in Piazza Armerina, shops and restaurants. There is a plenty parking in front of the hotel. You can leave the car there and just explore the beautiful town by walking. The basic rooms are located in the main building, where the breakfast served. The suites located down a stairway and around the corner from the main building. The suite we had contained spacious bedroom, kitchen, private bathroom and the balcony. The room was equipped with the TV, air-condition, heating, hairdryer, free good strong Wi-Fi and comfortable sleeping facilities. Every room has it unique charm and antique decor. The nice breakfast is served in the main building included cold cuts, tomatoes, fruits, bread, juice, tea/coffee. The owner of Kemera, seniora Rita, welcomed us and tried to make us feel at home, although she and the rest of stuff speak very basic English. The town is beautiful, but don’t have a lot of attractions at the evening. Good choice for night or two. It’s a B&B, so let the stuff know about your arrival time, especially if you are planning to arrive late at the evening. No reception available at the evening. The B&B don’t accept American Express.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maison D Art Casa Arico Taormina; City: Taormina Province of Messina Sicily; Review: This fantastic small boutique hotel located on the quiet street at the heart of the old part of Taormina, walking distance to the main attractions. It’s a private building decorated by the artist, including beautiful paintings, ceramics, sculptures and other peace of art. The charming owner Luca welcomed us at the arrival and made everything in his power to make our stay comfortable and unforgettable. He gave us helpful tips about places to visit around and restaurants. We stayed in the double room with the balcony and the endless sea view. The room was designed with the attention to every little detail, perfectly clean and had everything we need at our stay, including bottle of wine and water on the arrival. The breakfast was served at the dining room on the upper floor with beautiful sea view. It included good choice of cold meats, cheese, vegetables, fruits, boiled eggs, yogurts, breads, juices, coffee and tea. The hotel offers parking service, because it located on the small street where the parking is prohibited. It’s great arrangement, but you’ll depend on the driver to take and return your car. You can easily park the car on the public parking close to the entrance to the old town. I highly recommend this boutique hotel. Thank you Luca for the enjoyable stay. We’ll be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infinity Hotel St Peter; City: Rome Lazio; Review: On our first visit about three years ago I rated this hotel very high and recommended it warmly. On our second visit in Fabruary 2017 at the hotel we were very disappointed this time. We ordered 2 rooms, both of which had the strong smell and signs of mold. After our complains at the reception, we were upgraded us to larger rooms on a higher floor, but there was still a strong smell of mold and we had to constantly ventilate the room by opening windows. The breakfast was very basic and if you get up late, some of the choices were missing. The location is great, the staff is nice, but for this price there are better options in Rome.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: K Suites TLV; City: Tel Aviv Tel Aviv District; Review: Best location close to the beach, shops and restaurants, private parking available, great stuff. The hotel manager Tzipi made everything in her power to make us fill at home. Spacious suits, super clean, well designed and equiped. Comfortable bed, Flat TV with cables in sitting area and in the bedroom, safe, minibar, airconditionier, hairdrier, coffee machine. Will get back on our next visit to Tel-Aviv!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Vienna First; City: Vienna; Review: Great location in the heart of Vienna. Close to several metro stations, walking distance from the main Vienna attractions. This small boutique hotel is a part of Mercury chain. The standard room isn't big, but very comfortable, clean and equiped with everithing you need: flat TV, little fridge, free tea/coffee and mineral water, kettle, safe, closet, comfortable bathroom. The staff is very nice and helpful. One minus is very basic breakfast, that not suit to 4 star hotel. You can easily find great coffee shops around, that serve breakfast for reasonable prices. Except of that, the hotel is wonderful and very recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orchid Okeanos Boutiqe Herzlia; City: Herzliya Tel Aviv District; Review: Complementary water and wine were waiting for us at the arrival. The room is equipped with mini bar, Nespresso coffee machine, kettle, safe, big TV with cable channels. The WIFI is bit slow, but free and available in all areas, including the pool, with no password needed. The room was spacious and clean, with little balcony and sea view. The breakfast was nice, but pretty simple. The dining room where the breakfast is served pretty small and some of the mornings was full. The parking is free in the underground secure garage, but it’s depends on available parking places. The hotel is close to the beach and has access to the private pool, that was pretty busy and loud. Some minor changes at the breakfast and at the pool could change staying at this hotel to more pleasant experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amadi Park Hotel; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: This boutique small hotel has good quiet location inside private appartment building. Walking distance from the main Amsterdam attractions.The reception is on the 4th floor. The hotel has modern design. The room was bit tiny, but perfectly clean and well equiped with flat cable TV, safe, closet, coffee machine and the little balcony. Free beers were waiting for as on the arrival in the little mini bar. The staff was very nice and kind and helped us with every our request. The price for the room was bit high, but we stayed in the hotel during the spring vacation. We enjoyed very much our stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Andalucia Center Hotel; City: Granada Province of Granada Andalucia; Review: Nice 4 star hotel , very good quiet location. Easy access to the highway and about 15 minutes walking to the city center. Close to bus and metro station. Spacious, nice clean room and bathroom. Good choice for breakfast, but less for vegeterian. The hotel has the pool and the private parking garage, but the parking is subject to availability. We arrived at the afternoon and the parking was full, so the staff refered us to some close public garage cost 18 euro per day. It was bit inconvinient. Besides this, in general the hotel and the staff is nice. It's our 2 nd stay in this hotel and we enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carmel Forest Spa Resort by Isrotel Exclusive Collection; City: Haifa Haifa District; Review: This perfect spa resort that located in the heart of Carmel Forest offers excellent relaxation time, fine dining and perfect service. Perfectly cleaned renovated rooms has everything you need: flat TV, little mini bar, safe, closet, free tea/coffee, parket floor, sitting area, bathroom and the perfect view to the forest. The hotel has inside and outside pool in summer, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and Turkish hamam. You can enjoy different type of body and face treatments in the spa, diet advisor, wine tasting and other activities. Breakfast and dinner has great choice of excellent dishes for every taste and diet type. Just leave you phone and the laptop in the room and relax!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Galilion; City: Merkaz Kah Northern District; Review: This lovely new hotel has great location. Close to Agamon Hahula and short driving to other attractions in the area, close to Galilion Market, that opened all week including saturday. The rooms are spacious, very clean and has everything you need on vacation. All room has the balcony. Some of the rooms facing the pool area. The staff is very friendly and make everything in their power to make you fill at home. The breakfast and the dinner offers a good choice of dishes, including vegetarians. Large parking lot. Very recommended!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Urban Tan; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I've been tanning with Urban tan off and on for a few years. I used to use their Mystic tan but now they have the Versa Spa spray tan system. I love this. It's soo much better than Mystic. With Versa Spa it's very even and pretty. I pay for the Versa membership and it's 45 dollars a month. It allows me to have the 'light' color. I usually upgrade when I come in for 5 dollars to the dark and it lasts a full week. It's worth it for me, I am so pale and I don't like to deal with self tanners at home. Versa Spa is a no brainer and it's perfect every time. The owner, Mike is really really nice. They take very good care of us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Designed Images; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I really like going to Designed Images. I go to Andrea Rybialek and she is an exceptional stylist. Designed Images is a very friendly shop and I don't have to wait weeks to get an appointment. The prices are so reasonable too. Check out their product specials. I stocked up on Chi shine spray when they had a sale. All the hot girls go here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nail Luxe; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This is a newer nail spa but I really like it. It is a large space with lots of pedicure chairs and nail stations. Since it's so new it's not busy at all. My old salon was packed constantly and I got shifted from worker to worker. Nail Luxe has the best best best pedicure chairs ever. They have the deep massage options and I love it. In fact, the news of their chairs is spreading to our gym, next door. Nail Luxe has OPI and China Glaze and Shellac. I got the OPI Chocolate pedicure for 33 dollars and I was in the chair for a full hour. My girl, Jenny rubbed my feet and legs for a full half hour. The normal spa pedi is 23 but the 10 dollars extra was well worth it. Nail Luxe is super clean and they do a great job. They have lots of fun things on their menu. If you like to stray from your french mani, you can get all the fun colored powders and glitter nails. Make sure you ask for the OPI shattered polish. Fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Main Street Gym; City: Saint Charles, MO; Review: Main Street Gym is a perfect fit for the historic St. Charles area. The gym has everything you need for your workouts including cardio, tredmills, free weights, Machines, bosus and so much more. MSG has tanning, group ex classes, a juice bar, personal trainers and the people are super friendly. The gym is very nice and the locker rooms are spectacular. A lot of thought and care goes into making this gym exceptional. Skip the corporate gyms & give MSG a tr; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Absolutli Goosed; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I cannot seem to get off the James Bond girl drinks page of the menu when I go to Goosed. I love trying all the fun drinks. Pussy Galore is my favorite. They also have the Almond Joy martini, yum. Anything with whip cream on the rim.. I'm on it. We did NYE at Goosed for 5 dollar martinis. It was cheap, fun and the sexy blonde bartender was mesmerizing. I have never had bad service at Goosed. A++; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sub Zero Vodka Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: My first time at Sub Zero was Labor Day. We were very intriqued by the vodka infusions they offered. I had the Coconut/Pineapple one and it was yummy. Since we were in the happy hour zone, infusions were half price. We ordered a Salmon burger and sweet potato fries as well as the Sushi burger. My husband and I shared and both were spectacular. The sushi burger was my favorite. I'm excited to go back and try more of their drinks. I also really want to sit at the ice bar. Sub Zero is a very cool place. I can see us going there a lot. The staff was extremely friendly as well. Overall experience was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Louis Stevenson Page; Review: Great for my daughters advanced English class. It was a requriered reading assignment and i saved money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Communicating Effectively; Author: Visit Amazon's Saundra Hybels Page; Review: Book was in excellent condition service was fast which was great for an on-line course.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Literature: Compact Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert DiYanni Page; Review: Great price for the book. Received pretty much brand new and the price was very comperable for a used book. Fast shippment. I wish all books looks this good for the money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! Green Back Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Dr. Seuss Page; Review: Very fast and prompt service. Book was new and excellent condition. Just as promised which was grate since it was for a graduation gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Praxis Series Official Guide with CD-ROM, Second Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Educational Testing Service Page; Review: Book was brand new. Service took a while and I had to contact the vendor to find the status of the book. Besides that the vendor got right back with me and the book was to me within just a few days.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Leg Avenue Women's Swashbucker's Hat; Brand: ; Review: Didn't like the way it fit; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: I loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harley-Davidson Womens Scrunchie Bar & Shield Paisley Black Headband HE108130; Brand: Harley-Davidson; Review: I liked it a lot but it was too big for my head.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SYROKAN Women's High Impact Workout Running Powerback Support Underwire Sports Bra; Brand: ; Review: Finally a bra that I can bend over and clean or exercise in without flying out. I ended up buying 4!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lock and Love LL Womens Quilted Biker Jacket; Brand: Lock and Love; Review: I am losing weight just for this coat. Only 10 lbs but its a great incentive; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prolific Health Fitness Power Flex Yoga Pants Leggings XS - XXXL; Brand: Prolific Health; Review: Absolutely love them!!. I also bought several others I am waiting on. Fit perfect, very comfortable. I even went out on the day I got them, and walked for a half mile to start.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Neonysweets Womens Capri Pants Workout Yoga Active Leggings; Brand: Neonysweets; Review: Ready for more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WEEL ARROW Women Floral Blouse Chiffon Shirt Loose Tops Dress; Brand: ; Review: The material was not expected but I really like it even more. It's definitely delicate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Trtl Pillow - Scientifically Proven Super Soft Neck Support Travel Pillow - Machine Washable Black; Brand: Trtl; Review: Very soft fabric, and supportive, as claimed! I think I'll be using it when relaxing at home, not just for travel, as well!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WPMS Incredibly Soft and Absorbent Memory Foam Bath Mat, 17 By 24-inch (Brown); Brand: WPM; Review: I bought this when redecorating my bathroom. It is light but plush/cushy, very absorbent and they size is PERFECT if you don't have much space. Oh and the color is as vibrant as shown!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Umbra Grassy Organizer, White; Brand: Umbra; Review: Like a few have said, the color here is a bit off - it's closer to a drab/avocado then the bright/ spring green shown here. I too find ita bit odd the grass is thinner on one side then the other but I can make it work - I'm using it to hold makeup brushes and they're fine, if not slightly wobbly. I'd like it better if the color was as advertised and the blades were equally, thickly distributed - but it looks cool on my vanity so 3 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MCS Prisms, 3-Opening Frame For 4x6-Inch Photo, Purple; Brand: MCS; Review: I was having a heck of a time finding a 5x7 frame in a bright color that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I'm very happy with this frame, it's exactly what I wanted at a good price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ewei's HomeWares Universal Knife Block, Advanced Knife Storage Rack, Knife Case, Fasion Red; Brand: EWEI'S HomeWares; Review: This fits all 11 of my knives but is smaller than the old wooden knife block I had. It matches our kitchen very well and looks almost space-agey with its smooth lines. I love that it can be placed in the dishwasher for the inevitable grease build up from the stove. The best part is it fits any 8" or shorter knife so you aren't bound by slots like a traditional block. I'll definitely be recommending this to anyone I know who needs a practical knives storage solution.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Almijara; City: La Herradura Almunecar Province of Granada Andalucia; Review: I ate at this hotel. It was their Sunday midday Buffet, but I think they offer this every day. The food was great. 10 euros include my drinks! There was a great selection of Spanish food and desert including an amazing Paella. The hotel was unfortunately full so I didnt stay there, but the staff were so polite and friendly!! I cant wait to get back and will be staying at this hotel which is just steps from the beach and the old part of town. It looked exceptionally clean and neat and by far the best value hotel in Town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pension La Herradura; City: La Herradura Almunecar Province of Granada Andalucia; Review: This a small BUDGET hotel. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The lady speaks great English and helped me with my Spanish. She also cooked me a lovely vegetable soup in her surgically clean kitchen. The rooms were clean. The beds were comfortable. It is well located in the centre of town, close to the beach, on a busy road and its going to be noisy. The bar downstairs stays open very late as do all Spanish bars and it is noisy. But I was there in the off season and was able to choose from several rooms. I found the quietest I could and always travel with a small packet of foam earplugs which totally drown out the noise and are comfortable enough to sleep with. My bathroom was kind of outside on my private terrace. I paid 20 Euros a night. Need I say more! Most people's problems arise when they choose a budget hotel and expect to stay at a 5 star resort. I cannot stress how nice the owners are. There is both a small courtyard garden and a rooftop terrace where you can sit and soak in the sounds of Spain.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostal Virgen del Rocio; City: Ronda Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: I stayed for 3 nights and the family and staff were fantastic. It is ideally located very close to the bridge and a short walk to the old town and all the sights in Ronda. Best value for money ever. They couldnt do enough to make sure my stay was great. The room was clean. And it was serviced and my bed made every day. For the money you pay this is the best ever. Ronda is spectacular and just too much to see in one day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel 81 Princess; City: Singapore; Review: I have stayed in Singapore several times this was a one day layover. I have used the hotel 81 chain before. This is not the best, but was the cheapest at the time. Its not a close walk to the MRT (underground rail) It is in the middle of the redlight district and there was a prostitute every five metres on the streets around the hotel. Which I found remarkable for Singapore with their strict rules. It seems there arent too many streetlights in the area and walking there late at night would have been risky in any other country. But Singapore is exceptionally safe. It did not cause me any problem but its obviously a booming trade there. The room was clean, but there was no shower curtain so the water ended up on the floor. The beds were OK as was the aircon. But the windows didnt open and I love fresh air! The staff were friendly and the wake up call was on time. They processed me very quickly and had me in my room quickly and gone quickly in the morning. For the price it was Ok but I would choose another location next time. There is a fresh produce market at the end of the street.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cottage Suvarnabhumi; City: Bangkok; Review: I stayed one night at the hotel on my way to Europe. It is close to the airport and provides a free shuttle that is very well organised to meet you and take you to the hotel, just email them and follow their instructions for the pick up. As usual the Thai people amazed me with their friendliness and politeness which I rate as the best in the world. There is a small in house restaurant so no need to leave the hotel. I sampled both the Pad Thai and a Chicken Fried rice. Excellent! The rooms are very clean and comfotable. I didnt use the pool but it looked fine. What always amazes me is people on a budget expecting the Ritz or the Carlton. This is a budget hotel located close to the airport. Now that I have discovered this I will always stay there. It isnt a holiday destination. Its a transit hotel that is cheap and very good value and for that I give it 5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avra Hotel; City: Preveza Preveza Region Epirus; Review: Located directly overlooking the Port of Preveza, you can sit and watch the yachts coming and going from your balcony. Port can get noisy in season so if you want quiet, give up the spectacular view and get a room on the back of this great little hotel. Family run. Very clean, no smoke smell like many other local hotels. Stones throw from all the restaurants and the ferry to the boatyards. Nothing was too much trouble. If you arent expecting the Hilton and like value for money, this one gets my 100 percent vote.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Torre del Moro; City: Fiumicino Province of Rome Lazio; Review: This hotel deserves more than 2 stars. I would not normally have booked a 2 star in Rome from previous experience. There should be a category for small owner operated hotels like this one. When travelling I am always looking for clean, quiet hotels with pleasant staff, flexible hours and attitudes and a no smoking policy. I got all this and more. A great restaurant on site with many more an easy walk. The owner and his staff were more than pleasant! Breakfast was continental with a very good cup of real coffee! It does not have an elevator and I suspect the people that are turned off due to this are the same people who want mounds of bacon and eggs and waffles. For me this was great value. 15 euros is the fixed taxi price from the airport. Most shuttles will charge 6 or more per person. So my son and I shared a cab and the cost wasnt much different, with the added bonus of being able to leave with a taxi we didnt miss the shuttle!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sonic the Hedgehog 3; Brand: by
Sega; Review: NEPHEW LOVED IT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sonic the Hedgehog 2; Brand: by
Sega; Review: BRINGS BACK MEMRORIES; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sonic the Hedgehog; Brand: by
Sega; Review: LOVED IT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Sega; Review: AWESOME; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sonic Generations - PlayStation 3; Brand: by
Sega; Review: AWESOME; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Forever Trilogy: Forever Black, Forever You, Forever Us - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sandi Lynn Page; Review: cannot tell you how much I love all your books especially this trilogy you are a great author Sandi Lynn keep up the great writing can't wait for what comes next!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RUIN - Part Two (The RUIN Series, Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: love it can't wait for book 3 the way book 2 ended was awesome can't wait to see what Kayla does about Dr. Ben and Parker, Deborah Bladon your awesome!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wild Addiction (Wild, #2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Emma Hart Page; Review: love love wild addiction Tyler and Liv ,Aaron and Dayton the story was great addiction and love are a part of my story so I relate Emma Hart you are an awesome writer enjoy all your books thanks!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Game (The Fun and Games Series Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Clare James Page; Review: Clare James you did it again great writing loved loved this book just love Gabe and Stevie love their story can't wait for the next book!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play with Me (Novella) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lisa Renee Jones Page; Review: what a great story loved it enjoy your books so much always keep me intrigued wanting more but the ending is so good great work Lisa Renee Jones!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RUIN - Part Three (The RUIN Series, Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book was upset at the ending of book 2 but you brought it all back together right just love Ben and Kayla thanks Deborah Bladon for another awesome book loved it!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Upside Of Love (Love Series, 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sandi Lynn Page; Review: you did it again Sandi Lynn another awesome story loved the ups and downs of Luke and Lily story love a book that makes me cry and smile you don't disappoint I love all your books can't wait for the next one!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Forever Christmas (A Black Family Holiday Story) (Forever Trilogy Book 5) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sandi Lynn Page; Review: As always Sandi Lynn you don't disappoint just love Conner and Ellery loved this book love all your books your awesome and so is this story so great to see them as a family!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FUSE - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: You did it again Deborah Bladon I'm writing this review with tears what an awesome story just love Zoe and Beck the book is wonderful you never disappoint can't wait for the next story thanks!!!!! xoxo; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TRACE - Part One (The TRACE Series Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: Deborah Bladon you did it again what a story as always you leave us anxiously waiting for the next book in the series can't wait to see what happens with Vanessa and Garrett thanks again your awesome!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TRACE - Part Two (The TRACE Series Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: You did it again Deborah can't wait for book three oh the chemistry between Vanessa and Garrett, and what a greedy bitch her sister just love this book can't believe how fast I read it but I love all your books!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TRACE - Part Three (The TRACE Series Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: As always Deborah you don't disappoint can't tell you how much I enjoyed this series and how app the characters are brought together from all your books loved the ending love Vanessa and Garrett thanks it was awesome read!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Steps Too Close; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lydia Layne Page; Review: Enjoyed all the stories!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SHIVER - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Deborah Bladon Page; Review: Awesome awesome story love a book that makes me laugh and cry Deborah Bladon is wonderful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Whitmor 4 Tier Swing Arm Hanger, Silver; Brand: Whitmor; Review: These do save space... but they are kind of inconvenient.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whitmor 10 Tier Shoe Tower - 30 Pair - Closet Organizer; Brand: Whitmor; Review: I wish these were stack-able...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Zone 6" Clip and Desk Fan Combo Pack, White; Brand: Comfort Zone; Review: These are great - love the option of clip or stand - they are very weak, though... could blow more air.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MACHEE 1 X Slim-Line Set of (20) Finger Clips; Brand: MACHEE; Review: These fall off the hangers. Not worth the headache.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: South Shore Libra Collection 4-Drawer Dresser, Pure Black with Metal Handles in Pewter Finish; Brand: South Shore; Review: Flimsier than expected, but it does the job... light use only. The hardware is actually made of plastic! I've never seen that before. Obviously the wood is pressed, particle board - overall this is a lightweight, cheap chest that works fine for me, but I'm a single man who is gentle on his stuff. I don't think I would recommend it... also the assembly is a little laborious.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: LaMont Home Woven Jacquard Collection – Cotton Blend Bedspread; Brand: Lamont Home; Review: Wonderful texture and weight.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Zone 6 Inch Clip-On Fan | Great for Table Tops, Night Stands and anywhere you need Light; Brand: Comfort Zone; Review: These barely have any power to them. Using them in an art project - literally bought 10 of them... they suck. It's like a dog panting. NO wind power whatsoever. Maybe good for a leasing agent to clip to her desk, but otherwise completely useless.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ex-Cell Curved Shower Curtain Rod, Brushed Nickel; Brand: excell; Review: Super well made. Best rod ever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home-Complete HC-2002 Vacuum Storage Bags-15 Multi Size Space Saving Air Tight Compression Organizers for Closet Clutter, Clothes, Linens-Pump; Brand: Home-Complete; Review: These are super thing and fragile... some work some don't... they may have holes? If anything barely scratches it, it tears.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Tucson St Philip s Plaza University; City: Tucson Arizona; Review: Stayed here the March 10th-14th of 2013. When we arrive at 5:30 on the 10th our room was NOT ready. No apology no explanation no nothing. We had to wait about 30 minutes. Really not use to being treated like that. The room was clean and it was quiet. The beds were good. There seemed to be a lot of people staying there. The breakfast bar was good but they need a second person to help out. We liked the location of the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Westward Motel; City: Salome Arizona; Review: Needed a place to stay close to Alamo Lake. Found this place on line. It was great. It had what we needed. Clean room, comfortable bed and great hot shower. There is a full kitchen. We only made coffee but you can cook if you want to. There is also a nice grill if you want to use it. Lots of seating outside too. The owner is very welcoming and is there if you need anything. It's in walking distance to a couple of places to eat. Definitely would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old Town Inn; City: San Diego California; Review: We decided to stay at this hotel based on the reviews we read. We were very happy with out choice. The room was clean and we really like the way the bathroom is set up. There was a good selection at the free breakfast. Would have been nice if they had bananas. The staff were very nice. Short walk to Old Town and about a 10 minute drive to the zoo. We felt it was a good location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Prescott; City: Prescott Arizona; Review: We can always count on Hampton for a nice room and a good breakfast. This one came through with flying colors. We would stay if in the area again. There are places near by to eat but not really within walking distance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Columbus Taylorsville Edinburgh; City: Edinburgh Indiana; Review: This Hampton is wonderful. It has a great breakfast. Rooms are very clean. Happy hour with two free drinks at night. Within walking distance to restaurants and shopping. The front desk has ice scrappers to use. That was helpful as there was some bad weather while we were there and our rental car did not have an ice scraper in it. Would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Carrollton; City: Carrollton Kentucky; Review: We are disappointed in this Hampton. The ceiling in the room had a crack in it and was starting to flake off. The carpet in the hall was very dirty. The breakfast was not that good. The young lady at the desk was nice enough but did not know what a luggage stand was when we called her about one.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites; City: Wapakoneta Ohio; Review: We were in town for a funeral and thought we would give this hotel a try. We usually stay across the street. We were so sorry we did. It was dirty. The beds were clean but the bathroom was NOT! I cleaned the towel bar in the bathroom. There was so much soap build up on it I had to scrap it off. The toilet needed a good scrubbing. The calk around the tub needs to be replaced. We left our room about 10 am and came back about 5:30 and the room hadn't been made up. If we had not been so tired we would have left. We will not stay there again and will not recommend it to our friends. The breakfast area was good and the lady taking care of it was nice and helpful.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Louisville East Hurstbourne; City: Louisville Kentucky; Review: We stayed here for only one night. We had a very early flight out. The hotels closer to the airport were way too much. This hotel was very clean. The rooms appeared to have been updated. The front desk person was nice. Food was in driving distance. Would stay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Prescott; City: Prescott Arizona; Review: We love this Hampton. It is close to shopping and restaurants. It is very well maintained. The pool area is great. The kids loved it. The employees are friendly. We will plan to go back again this winter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sriracha Men's Hot Chili Sauce T-Shirt; Brand: Sriracha; Review: It look and wears great. Very bright and vivid details. Total love my Sriracha Tee Shirt. You guys are awesome. Thanks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SACASUSA (TM Super Large Feather Butterfly Fairy Angel Wings 2 color Black or White; Brand: SACASUSA; Review: Totaly cool; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TAM WARE Mens Casual Slim Fit Basic Dress Shirts; Brand: ; Review: Great color.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beistle Jumbo Bunny Rabbit Tail Costume Accessory White; Brand: Beistle; Review: Totally cute on my backside. Goes great with the rest of my outfits. Thanks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bundle Monster Mens Fashion Necktie Cufflinks Tie Bar Pocket Square Combo Set; Brand: Bundle Monster; Review: Cool toe; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Preciados; City: Madrid; Review: This is luxurious hotel in an excellent location. Close to all facilities. Many nice restaurants close by. The service is good which is what you would expect. They were helpful with information. Nice buffet breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Faros Suites; City: Fiscardo Cephalonia Ionian Islands; Review: Wonderful in all respects. Fantastic room in a quiet part of Fiscardo. Great service and a nice breakfast to start the day wit a lovely area to eat. Offer tea and coffee and water bottles all through the day. Perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Roi Apartments; City: Assos Cephalonia Ionian Islands; Review: The view is nice. Room is fine but there were a number of drawbacks to our stay. If you wish to cook in the room there are not enough cooking utensils and pans. Also no microwave. There were no complimentary Tea and coffee sachets. The sink would not drain properly and got stuck. Small bathroom. The wi-fi service was not up to standard. Also, we were asked not have air conditioning any less than 24 degrees! Clearly this is unacceptable. Breakfast was ok. Overpriced for what you get. Suggest not to stay in Assos but nice for a day trip.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pyrgos Adrachti; City: Kastraki Kalambaka Trikala Region Thessaly; Review: Nice B&B in a quiet location. Definitely stay here instead of Kalambaka. Room is good and breakfast is pretty good. Very nice terrace to have breakfast. No tea and coffee making facilities which is most unusual. However, if you ask a cup of tea or coffee will be made for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes; City: Kuchchaveli Eastern Province; Review: The price and reviews says it is a great resort. We have been to far better. The service in the restaurant is very good but overall, not great service. There were small bugs in the bed at night which they sorted out mainly one night but still some were there in the morning. The rooms are reasonable however they are aged and need refurbishing. The air conditioning system was so poorly placed that it was hard to adjust so that it was not blowing much on your head at night. The beach area is reasonable but would go to Nilavelli or Upavelli instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Galle Fort Hotel; City: Galle Galle District Southern Province; Review: This is a small hotel within the Fort and within walking distance of the fort walls and restaurants. Nice breakfast and a good place to have happy hour cocktails on the front verandah tables. Interesting and luxurious rooms; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elephant Stables; City: Kandy Kandy District Central Province; Review: Very friendly staff at this boutique hotel. Very good service, nice room (Cinnamon Suite) and very good breakfast, cooked to your wishes. In nice surrounds, it is particularly pleasant sitting outside for breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Datai Langkawi; City: Datai Langkawi Langkawi District Kedah; Review: Stayed here in November 2016 and this a lovely resort with magnificent facilities and fantastic beach. Given it is to be refurbished soon, it was a wonder. One of the great resort breakfasts you can have. Service was excellent and certainly worth the price tag.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cinnamon Lodge Habarana; City: Habarana North Central Province; Review: This is a very nice resort with luxurious rooms and a beautiful site. Plenty of eating options and the breakfast was very nice. This was an excellent base for exploring all the sights in the region. Service was friendly; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: RiverRidge 02-013 2-Piece Folding Storage Bin, Orange; Brand: RiverRidge Home; Review: So good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: redhoney Nanum Mini USB Car Aromatherapy Humidifier Diffuser Car Charger with Fresh Purification Function; Brand: redhoney; Review: broken; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Carnation Home Fashions Super Clear 10-Gauge Anti Mildew 72-Inch by 72-Inch Shower Curtain Liner; Brand: Carnation Home Fashions; Review: I love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign 35620 Leaves Fabric Shower Curtain - Standard, 72" x 72", Black; Brand: InterDesign; Review: I love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wagan EL2227-1 12 Volt Heated Travel Mug - Set of 2; Brand: Wagan; Review: ok it's working; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign Marigold Fabric Shower Curtain - 72" x 72", Blue/Green; Brand: InterDesign; Review: excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign 35603 Leaves Fabric Shower Curtain - Standard, 72" x 72", Gray/Mint; Brand: InterDesign; Review: I love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miles Kimball Personalized Tea Bag Mug; Brand: Miles Kimball; Review: nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Cotton Washcloths - 60-Pack; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VonShef Hamburger Patty Paper Discs 6 Inch, 250 Pack; Brand: VonShef; Review: 4star; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carnation Patty Paper - Box of 1000 Sheets: Single Box, 5.5" x 5.5"; Brand: Premium Paper Products; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bellemain Burger Press Non-Stick Hamburger Patty Maker Makes 4 1/2" Patties, 1/4lb to 3/4lb; Brand: Bellemain; Review: Ok; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hamilton Beach 040094923793 25490A Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker, Double w/Timer, Silver; Brand: Hamilton Beach; Review: Excellent I love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Victorinox 5.6603.15 6" Fibrox Pro Curved Boning Knife with Semi-Stiff Blade B0000CF94L, Silver/Black; Brand: Victorinox; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FoodSaver 11 in x 16 ft Expandable Heat-Seal Roll with Free Kitchen Cleaning Cloth Pack of 2; Brand: FoodSaver; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soufull Professional Knife Sharpener Kitchen Tools, 2 Pack-Knife Sharpener, 2 Pack-Knife Sharpener; Brand: Soufull; Review: Good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Easy-Clean Lid, 24 oz, Stainless Steel; Brand: Contigo; Review: Very bad.. junk; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Secura Automatic Electric Milk Frother and Warmer (250ml) (Whisk Set); Brand: Secura; Review: Excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Village Pub and Cafe; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Inside the Ellis island casino and they have the best Steak and Eggs in town for $6.99 from 12am-11am they also have great prime rib. The dining room is attached to the bar so you can also get drinks with your meal. Sometime there's a wait but the place seats slot of customers and the staff is fast and friendly and the food comes out fast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Planet Fitness; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's easy to get to with lots of parking the staff was nice and all the equipment worked plus the place was clean and neat. It has the smallest locker and shower area I've seen and the one massage chair didn't give a good massage I think it's just older.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Planet Fitness; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's easy to get to with lots of parking the staff was nice and all the equipment worked plus the place was clean and neat. It has the smallest locker and shower area I've seen and the one massage chair didn't give a good massage I think it's just older.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Planet Fitness; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's easy to get to with lots of parking the staff was nice and all the equipment worked plus the place was clean and neat. It has the smallest locker and shower area I've seen and the one massage chair didn't give a good massage I think it's just older.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Planet Fitness; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They get a 5 stars because the staff is always polite,the equipment is clean and always works,massage chairs work really good,clean showers and bathroom plus it's next to Smith's grocery store so I can can eat later. The gym is easy to get to from the strip; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Orleans Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's my go to casino when I'm in town I feel they have the best poker room and it's right next to a food court that has some nice food places. I also watch my sports teams here the sports book has lots of seating plus I love the beer steamed hot dogs for $2.00 in the sports book. The buffets one of the best in town for the price dinner will run you about $20.00 the staff has always been real friendly I have no complaints plus there's lots of parking and close to the strip and airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rainbow Laundromat; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: My go to laundry mat when I'm in LV it's about $3.50 a load but the machines all work and a attendant keeps the place clean. They also have a bathroom and places to eat in the same shopping center.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Walmart Supercenter; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's my go to Walmart when I'm LV it's only a few miles from the strip and has everything you need. The only drawback is it's always busy so it's sometimes hard to find a parking place close. But it's a one stop shop; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fuddruckers; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The burgers are really good but a little expensive the 2/3 burger will set you back $10.65 with no fries but you can refill your drink cup for 24 hours; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to get in and out of plus it's really small. The good thing is the WiFi works really well but there's not a lot of saying inside and no TV. A lot of the local homeless hangout inside; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Domino's Pizza; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The pizza is really good and a large is $7.99 with 3 toppings. The store is pretty close to the strip and has 2 seats inside the staff is nice and fast. When I order the pizzas done within 15 minutes it's hard to beat the price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Domino's Pizza; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The pizza is really good and a large is $7.99 with 3 toppings. The store is pretty close to the strip and has 2 seats inside the staff is nice and fast. When I order the pizzas done within 15 minutes it's hard to beat the price.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Domino's Pizza; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The pizza is really good and a large is $7.99 with 3 toppings. The store is pretty close to the strip and has 2 seats inside the staff is nice and fast. When I order the pizzas done within 15 minutes it's hard to beat the price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Makino Sushi & Seafood Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's my go to all you can eat sushi place in LV even going there for 18 years actually one of the sushi rollers is still there. It's $21.95 for lunch but they gave lots to select from plus they will make you any roll you want. The desserts are excellent They also have a soup station. The service has always been great and I have no complaints; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr Sandwich; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's my favorite place to eat Pho in LV it's right across from UNLV it's not very big inside but I've always found a seat. They gave a big selection of PHO and sandwiches but I've always gotten the beef/tripe pho it comes in a big bowl and it's really filling the price is $8.49.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Century Orleans 18 and XD; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I like to go on Wednesday's when the seats are $4.00 for seniors or the matinee in the mornings. The seats are comfortable and recline the theaters have always been clean. I always get a popcorn I think it's expensive at $8.00 but the refills are free that day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Century Orleans 18 and XD; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I like to go on Wednesday's when the seats are $4.00 for seniors or the matinee in the mornings. The seats are comfortable and recline the theaters have always been clean. I always get a popcorn I think it's expensive at $8.00 but the refills are free that day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Century Orleans 18 and XD; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I like to go on Wednesday's when the seats are $4.00 for seniors or the matinee in the mornings. The seats are comfortable and recline the theaters have always been clean. I always get a popcorn I think it's expensive at $8.00 but the refills are free that day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Orleans Arena; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Every seat is a good seats it's easy to find a parking place and not a long walk to enter. There's always good events going on and you can walk to the casino afterwards. The concession prices are a little high so I always eat first at the Orleans food court; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trader Joe's; City: Henderson, NV; Review: I love Trader Joe's always interesting samples to try and free coffee. I always find items I don't see in other stores like nuts and dates.they also have one of the best selections of cheeses.they sale a lot of quality foods and I find there prices comparable to other stores.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to enter and exit because of all the traffic. Plus it's in a bad neighborhood. Yeah I've stopped a couple times and it's not the best the good news is there's other McDonald's locations not far away; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Medley Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's always bright and clean. They gave lots of choices so I'm sure you'll find something you'll like the service gas always been good. The prices have gone up after they remodeled but I'm a big guy and I always get my money's worth. There's so many options it's hard to write a review on the food I would say it's worth going to if your in the area. I do think the Friday seafood buffet is over priced but breakfast is a good deal. Get the casino players club for a couple dollars off the price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Golden Gate Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It really looks good since they remodeled the place but it was also where the .99 cent shrimp cocktail was I do miss it. They also have go go dancers in the blackjack pit which is a nice touch.they also have an outside bar with dancers dancing on the bar top plus it's right next to the band stage so you can drink and listen to music; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Golden Gate Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It really looks good since they remodeled the place but it was also where the .99 cent shrimp cocktail was I do miss it. They also have go go dancers in the blackjack pit which is a nice touch.they also have an outside bar with dancers dancing on the bar top plus it's right next to the band stage so you can drink and listen to music; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Golden Gate Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It really looks good since they remodeled the place but it was also where the .99 cent shrimp cocktail was I do miss it. They also have go go dancers in the blackjack pit which is a nice touch.they also have an outside bar with dancers dancing on the bar top plus it's right next to the band stage so you can drink and listen to music; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Golden Nugget; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's the flagship of the downtown area which makes it hard to park and it's always busy but it is the nicest casino on the Fremont Experience.its with stopping g to see the pool area with the fish tank and water slide. They also have the worlds biggest gold nugget you can get pictures of. Tons of nice restaurants inside.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Binion's Gambling Hall; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Binions was the place to hang out at 20 years ago but not anymore I think it's pretty much run down but you can still get a picture with a million dollars for free. Also the cafe has really good food at a reasonable price. I always park in the garage $2.00 an hour but the casino will validate your parking ticket so it's really fee; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Einstein Bros; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's right next to Starbucks so I always get a Starbucks coffee and stop in for an apple bagel with smear. There pretty big and the price is reasonable. They have a great deal on mondays 12 bagels for $6.00. They also have lots of promotions on there App; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Einstein Bros; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's right next to Starbucks so I always get a Starbucks coffee and stop in for an apple bagel with smear. There pretty big and the price is reasonable. They have a great deal on mondays 12 bagels for $6.00. They also have lots of promotions on there App; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Einstein Bros; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's right next to Starbucks so I always get a Starbucks coffee and stop in for an apple bagel with smear. There pretty big and the price is reasonable. They have a great deal on mondays 12 bagels for $6.00. They also have lots of promotions on there App; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to find a parking space also watch out for the drive thru cars coming around the corner. The stores really small and not a lot of seating but they do have a few leather chairs I like. They gave a nice outdoor seating they share with Einstein's. The staffs and keeps up because there normally busy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to find a parking space also watch out for the drive thru cars coming around the corner. The stores really small and not a lot of seating but they do have a few leather chairs I like. They gave a nice outdoor seating they share with Einstein's. The staffs and keeps up because there normally busy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and hard to find a parking space also watch out for the drive thru cars coming around the corner. The stores really small and not a lot of seating but they do have a few leather chairs I like. They gave a nice outdoor seating they share with Einstein's. The staffs and keeps up because there normally busy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think it's a training store because I always see different baristas it's a little hard to find parking sometimes. It doesn't have a lot of seating but it's never really to busy a lot of customers use the drive thru. It's always clean and the staff is nice; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think it's a training store because I always see different baristas it's a little hard to find parking sometimes. It doesn't have a lot of seating but it's never really to busy a lot of customers use the drive thru. It's always clean and the staff is nice; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think it's a training store because I always see different baristas it's a little hard to find parking sometimes. It doesn't have a lot of seating but it's never really to busy a lot of customers use the drive thru. It's always clean and the staff is nice; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have the biggest fries and drink outside but inside I find the place a little dirty and there's always sketchy people hanging out. It's probably better to drive a few more minutes to another one plus it's hard to pull in and out of.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Palazzo Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The Place is amazing a review does not do justice it's definitely a first class place.even if you don't gamble or stay here it's worth stopping just to see the decor and the famous canals upstairs there is also a bunch of great restaurants and shops.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Venetian Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think it's the nicest Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas where else can you find gondolas out front and on the second floor. Lots of amazing shops and restaurants all through the place. The decor is amazing and the upstairs makes me feel like I'm in Italy. Plus the poker room is one of best in town; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gold Coast Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's an older casino but it's still nice inside I stop because they have a lot of slot promotions and Wednesday's they have lots of promotions for people over 50. I also like TGI Friday's they have great ribs. They also have a nice sports book that isn't normally crowded and parking is free and never a problem to find a space.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Is a nice spacious restaurant with great decorations right off the casino floor. I love the wing appetizer and it's only $6.00 during happy hour for 10 Wong's. Another great meal is the full rack of ribs it will definitely fill you up. The salmon is always dry and it's $17.00. The service is always pretty fast; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Is a nice spacious restaurant with great decorations right off the casino floor. I love the wing appetizer and it's only $6.00 during happy hour for 10 Wong's. Another great meal is the full rack of ribs it will definitely fill you up. The salmon is always dry and it's $17.00. The service is always pretty fast; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Is a nice spacious restaurant with great decorations right off the casino floor. I love the wing appetizer and it's only $6.00 during happy hour for 10 Wong's. Another great meal is the full rack of ribs it will definitely fill you up. The salmon is always dry and it's $17.00. The service is always pretty fast; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: USA Auto Service; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Really nice place everyone here is friendly if you check in on Yelp you get a free smog or oil change I took advantage of that.I'm coking back to get my breaks done because they were so nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's a newer store along a busy road it's hard to pull in and out because the road is always busy than it's hard to find a parking spaces in front of the store but it's in a shopping center which has lots of parking. The inside is nice with lots of seating and a patio. The drive they gets crowded but the employees are nice and fast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fiesta Filipina Cuisine; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's my go to place for Filipina food . There's not much parking in front of the store but there is in the shopping center attached. The food has always been fresh with lots of choices you can fill up for about $8.00. The place is always clean and there's always a good Filipina soap opera on the TV.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultra Clean Express Car Wash; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The best car vacs I have ever used they really suck plus you can get your car washed for $3.00. They also have a nice clean restroom and the best part is the vacs are free even if you don't wash your car. The car wash is automatic and easy to use; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sloan's Ice Cream; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: WOW it brought me flash backs of my childhood being in a candy store. One of the best selections of candy I've seen at $16.00 a pound but they did have a 25% off sale. They also have homemade ice cream that looked really good. It definitely worth going in and buying different candies you don't see everyday. Plus it's along the canals with Gondolas going past.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whole Foods Market; City: Henderson, NV; Review: The store has a huge selection of meat,seafood and fruits/vegetables but the prices are extremely high and I'm not sold on it being that much better than other stores. I do like there fresh made pizzas at 2-$7.00 it's really good and filling. They also a bar and coffee shop and tables to enjoy your food if you want to eat there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whole Foods Market; City: Henderson, NV; Review: The store has a huge selection of meat,seafood and fruits/vegetables but the prices are extremely high and I'm not sold on it being that much better than other stores. I do like there fresh made pizzas at 2-$7.00 it's really good and filling. They also a bar and coffee shop and tables to enjoy your food if you want to eat there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whole Foods Market; City: Henderson, NV; Review: The store has a huge selection of meat,seafood and fruits/vegetables but the prices are extremely high and I'm not sold on it being that much better than other stores. I do like there fresh made pizzas at 2-$7.00 it's really good and filling. They also a bar and coffee shop and tables to enjoy your food if you want to eat there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ellis Island BBQ; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest or the biggest casino but they have the Best rack of ribs. It's the only place in town you can get a rack of ribs for under $20 dollars and that includes a glass of there famous micro brew. You may have to wait a little because normally there's a line but it's worth it. They open at 4pm; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's a locals casino right off the 215 in Henderson. It's not my favorite but I stop when they have a slot promotion. The buffet isn't the best or worst but the price isn't high either. I normally just drive past to Sunset station casino 5 minutes away.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's a locals casino right off the 215 in Henderson. It's not my favorite but I stop when they have a slot promotion. The buffet isn't the best or worst but the price isn't high either. I normally just drive past to Sunset station casino 5 minutes away.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's a locals casino right off the 215 in Henderson. It's not my favorite but I stop when they have a slot promotion. The buffet isn't the best or worst but the price isn't high either. I normally just drive past to Sunset station casino 5 minutes away.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Planet Fitness; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It was really nice with a big parking lot in a shopping center with places to eat and shop. The staff was really nice and the place was extremely clean. The locker room was big and also clean. All the equipment I used was in working order. If you join you should get the black card so you can use the massage chairs and tanning. The lounge was really comfortable with couches and a TVs. It's great working out they have about 20 TVs; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's getting older and seems like everything is more expensive but I go to play at the WSOP each year. They do have a really nice pool that was free to locals but no more.theres a food court with some pretty good food right next to a big sports book they have a poker room but it's pretty small considering it the home of the WSOP. They also have a Starbucks hidden in a hallway off the casino floor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's getting older and seems like everything is more expensive but I go to play at the WSOP each year. They do have a really nice pool that was free to locals but no more.theres a food court with some pretty good food right next to a big sports book they have a poker room but it's pretty small considering it the home of the WSOP. They also have a Starbucks hidden in a hallway off the casino floor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's getting older and seems like everything is more expensive but I go to play at the WSOP each year. They do have a really nice pool that was free to locals but no more.theres a food court with some pretty good food right next to a big sports book they have a poker room but it's pretty small considering it the home of the WSOP. They also have a Starbucks hidden in a hallway off the casino floor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunset Park; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I love the park I've fished there for years in the big lake I ate the trout and they were really good they stock once a week in the spring. Lots of things for kids to do playground,basketball,volleyball,tennis and etc. they have special events through out the year. It's safe to they have lots of security and it's close to everything. The park is huge so there's no way to get bored.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dollar Tree; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have really good deals but it's always kind of dirty and unorganized. But I overlook it because it's hard to beat buying things that cost 3 times more at Walmart. Everything is a dollar I repeat $1.00. Sometimes there's long lines but $1 is $1; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dollar Tree; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have really good deals but it's always kind of dirty and unorganized. But I overlook it because it's hard to beat buying things that cost 3 times more at Walmart. Everything is a dollar I repeat $1.00. Sometimes there's long lines but $1 is $1; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dollar Tree; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They do have really good deals but it's always kind of dirty and unorganized. But I overlook it because it's hard to beat buying things that cost 3 times more at Walmart. Everything is a dollar I repeat $1.00. Sometimes there's long lines but $1 is $1; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's walking distance from the Palm casino and Gold Coast casino and it's open till 10pm. It's an open floor plan so the tables are spread out so your not right on top of each other. Join there gold card club for extra benefits. There's also a patio outside which you can use all year here in Las Vegas. Plus if you get hungry Jimmy Johns is right next door and can deliver in a flash.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's walking distance from the Palm casino and Gold Coast casino and it's open till 10pm. It's an open floor plan so the tables are spread out so your not right on top of each other. Join there gold card club for extra benefits. There's also a patio outside which you can use all year here in Las Vegas. Plus if you get hungry Jimmy Johns is right next door and can deliver in a flash.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's walking distance from the Palm casino and Gold Coast casino and it's open till 10pm. It's an open floor plan so the tables are spread out so your not right on top of each other. Join there gold card club for extra benefits. There's also a patio outside which you can use all year here in Las Vegas. Plus if you get hungry Jimmy Johns is right next door and can deliver in a flash.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gondola Ride at the Venetian; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to not rate the ride 5 Stars considering it's on the second floor of the Venetian and it looks like your in St Marks square. I think it's amazing there's also gondola rides outside on the front of the Venetian but I would rather ride indoor because you feel like your in Italy plus the ticket office is right next to Godiva chocolates. It's a must see even if you do t ride plus the gondolier sings Italian songs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palms Casino Resort; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I used to stop all the time to play poker but they got rid of the poker room but they do have a nice movie theater. The theater has some some pretty good specials during the week. Also there buffet is really good with tons of selections. I feel it attracts more younger people they do have a lot of concerts. They do have some really nice themed suites I've been up to a couple of them with a basketball court and bowling alley. Another attraction is the sky bar with a glass floor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Palms Place; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Great location right on Flamingo and next to the Palms casino. You get a better deal if you book online and the suites are really nice. The view is great and there's a kitchen if you would like to dine in and hang on the balcony.The lobby is small and gets crowded at checkout but there is a small gift shop. Also has a hot tub on the top floor with a great view lots of celebrities stay here so you never know who you will run into.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meadows Mall; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest and not in the best neighborhood but it's easy to get to because it's right off the 215. There are not many malls left where you can find a JC Penney's,Macy's and other big stores together. It's not the nicest but it's pretty much the only one stop shopping around except for Walmart.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Rock Harley-Davidson; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: WOW stop in with a friend looking for a bike I was surprised how nice the store was and the amount of new bike inventory. Lots of cloths,leather jackets and accessories for sale everything was really nice but out of my price range.they also have a nice lounge area with leather couches if your bike is in service. It's worth stopping if g and walking around even if you don't own a bike.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carlo's Bakery; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The shoppes on the second floor of the Venetian and is always busy plus you probably won't see Carlos. You can watch through the bakery window window and watch the cakes being made. The prices are expensive but it's worth it for a special occasion. Cupcakes are really good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fox 5 KVVU-TV; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It was really neat being in the studio and seeing all the on air newscasters I was there to watch over a foreign model being interviewed. It was a great experience and everyone was really nice plus it's my favorite news station.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Roller; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I'm scared of heights but I like looking at it and when friends come into town they all want to ride the Ferris wheel. Parking is easy and across the street from the big wheel but it's $9.00 for 2 hours. Locals get a discount and the visitor price is $25.00 and takes a half hour to spin.its worth it to say you've done it if your not scared of heights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Big parking lot and easy access drive thru I wish all Starbucks were this spacious inside and the seating spread out. A couple of comfortable leather chairs is a nice touch plus lots of chairs and tables against the wall. The staff was nice and fast also the place is clean; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seafood City Supermarket; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think they have the best selection of seafood in LV and it always looks fresh. They also have a big selection of meat and some productions you don't see at a normal super market. It's always well stocked and clean. The best part is you can buy hot food at the front and they have a nice seating area. If your in the area it's worth stopping in to take a look and maybe eat something different.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Lots of traffic pulling in and out of casino but they gave lots of parking. Be prepared it's big and lots of walking but it really looks nice inside since they remodeled years ago. Lots of places to eat and they have a big food court if you want to save money. You can walk to the Paris casino thru a indoor walk way with lots of nice shops also easy access to the strip.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paris Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Only here for a day but the interior of the Paris casino is incredible it makes me feel like I'm in Paris. It's hard to write a review because you really need to see the place in person. Lots of great restaurants and bakery shops with fresh French food. The casino is very clean and the staff has been really nice the gambling area isn't real big but there's enough slots and tables to keep you occupied it's also a short walk to the strip and a indoor walkway connects you to Bally's.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gordon Ramsay Steak; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: WOW the place looks really nice and I like watching his TV program but after looking at the menu it was to high priced for me. I looked in the restaurant it was really fancy and probably really nice to dine on a special occasion. Maybe come back another time; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's worth stopping if you like rock and roll they have so much rock memorabilia the place could be a museum plus they have the best concerts in town. I like the fact they have free parking and are close to the strip.the casino has a nice big spread out gambling floor with lots of nice bars. I like dining at the Pink Taco or Mr Luckys both are really good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to find a parking spot it's normally full of taxi drivers plus it's right next to the Walgreens and a bus stop and gets a lot of panhandlers. There's not enough tables inside to find a seat normally because this store is always busy and it takes a few minutes for your drink. I've never had a problem with any of my drinks but the staff definitely seems over worked.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to find a parking spot it's normally full of taxi drivers plus it's right next to the Walgreens and a bus stop and gets a lot of panhandlers. There's not enough tables inside to find a seat normally because this store is always busy and it takes a few minutes for your drink. I've never had a problem with any of my drinks but the staff definitely seems over worked.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard to find a parking spot it's normally full of taxi drivers plus it's right next to the Walgreens and a bus stop and gets a lot of panhandlers. There's not enough tables inside to find a seat normally because this store is always busy and it takes a few minutes for your drink. I've never had a problem with any of my drinks but the staff definitely seems over worked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New York New York Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I really like this casino mostly the front that looks like the NY skyline with the Statue of Liberty that is wearing a Vegas Knights Game Shirt nice touch. Also off to the side of the casino floor are buildings made to look like your walking in an old NY neighborhood with restaurants and delis serving NY foods. The pizza and Pastrami are excellent and where else can you see a roller coaster zooming through the casino above you. It's not the newest or nicest but it's a must see plus there's pedestrian bridges to other casinos; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's really nice that it's close to the airport and they say the hall looks almost like the one in Germany. I like to stop for the huge beers and the also huge pretzels. My mother always gets the sausage and snitzel. If your lucky the German band will be playing with the giant horns and everyone is always dressed in German outfits. The food is expensive but it's a lot cheaper than going to German for almost the same taste.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's easy to get to right off of interstate 15 going towards CA you can't miss the place. I never gave a problem finding a parking space since the lot is really big. The inside is enormous considering they have a arena that puts on horse-shows. There's lots of restaurants,a buffet and bowling alley. The sports book is really big with lots of seats they also have a small poker room with daily tournaments. West you tennis shoes lots of walking; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Well at least there's lots of parking because there aren't many seats inside and it gets pretty busy. Sometimes you wait a little while in drive thru but it is on LV boulevard and next to a Interstate 15 exit but the place is always clean and the staff busy but nice. Wish they had outdoor seating,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Well at least there's lots of parking because there aren't many seats inside and it gets pretty busy. Sometimes you wait a little while in drive thru but it is on LV boulevard and next to a Interstate 15 exit but the place is always clean and the staff busy but nice. Wish they had outdoor seating,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Well at least there's lots of parking because there aren't many seats inside and it gets pretty busy. Sometimes you wait a little while in drive thru but it is on LV boulevard and next to a Interstate 15 exit but the place is always clean and the staff busy but nice. Wish they had outdoor seating,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Benihana; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: WOW it's the first and biggest Benihana's in the world. I think it's 4 stars just because of the amazing interior and the show that goes with the food. The foods ok and maybe a little expensive for the portions but I think everyone should eat here one because it's an experience more than just a meal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Make sure to valet because it's a long walk from the other parking lots to get to the casino. The place is your average casino but the big draws are they gave the biggest and nicest sports book in town plus they have the biggest and first Benihana's. It's also convenient because there connected to the convention center and the hotel is a stop for the tram.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Make sure to valet because it's a long walk from the other parking lots to get to the casino. The place is your average casino but the big draws are they gave the biggest and nicest sports book in town plus they have the biggest and first Benihana's. It's also convenient because there connected to the convention center and the hotel is a stop for the tram.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Make sure to valet because it's a long walk from the other parking lots to get to the casino. The place is your average casino but the big draws are they gave the biggest and nicest sports book in town plus they have the biggest and first Benihana's. It's also convenient because there connected to the convention center and the hotel is a stop for the tram.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Make sure to valet because it's a long walk from the other parking lots to get to the casino. The place is your average casino but the big draws are they gave the biggest and nicest sports book in town plus they have the biggest and first Benihana's. It's also convenient because there connected to the convention center and the hotel is a stop for the tram.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gold & Silver Pawn Shop; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: When visitors come visit it's the most asked place to visit. It's right on LV Boulevard close to downtown I'm really glad it's free parking and free to get in. Sometimes there's a long line but it worth it if you watch the show the inside is normally crowded but there's no time limit so you'll get to see a lot of the things that were pawned on TV. Chances are you won't see any body from TV the days of tv having to work the Pawnshop are long gone. You can buy memorabilia and a Chumly bobble head inside.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gold & Silver Pawn Shop; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: When visitors come visit it's the most asked place to visit. It's right on LV Boulevard close to downtown I'm really glad it's free parking and free to get in. Sometimes there's a long line but it worth it if you watch the show the inside is normally crowded but there's no time limit so you'll get to see a lot of the things that were pawned on TV. Chances are you won't see any body from TV the days of tv having to work the Pawnshop are long gone. You can buy memorabilia and a Chumly bobble head inside.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gold & Silver Pawn Shop; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: When visitors come visit it's the most asked place to visit. It's right on LV Boulevard close to downtown I'm really glad it's free parking and free to get in. Sometimes there's a long line but it worth it if you watch the show the inside is normally crowded but there's no time limit so you'll get to see a lot of the things that were pawned on TV. Chances are you won't see any body from TV the days of tv having to work the Pawnshop are long gone. You can buy memorabilia and a Chumly bobble head inside.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stratosphere Hotel, Casino & Tower, BW Premier Collection; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: If your in town it's worth stopping to see the stratosphere and walk around inside also there buffet is pretty good.its worth taking a ride to the top it's worth it the view is amazing. Someday I want to bunge jump off the top but I'm afraid of heights. The casinos average and they do have a little poker room.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rick's Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's right next to the pawn shop which makes convenient if your pawning. It's kind of hard to find a parking space if the pawn shop is busy. I'm really surprised how small the seating area was both downstairs and upstairs where the bar is. The ribs were good and I really liked the macaroni and cheese but $29 for a full rack is kind of high but Ricks a TV celebrity so it makes sense. There's also tables and chairs on the patio outside.the bar is upstairs and pretty small.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rick's Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's right next to the pawn shop which makes convenient if your pawning. It's kind of hard to find a parking space if the pawn shop is busy. I'm really surprised how small the seating area was both downstairs and upstairs where the bar is. The ribs were good and I really liked the macaroni and cheese but $29 for a full rack is kind of high but Ricks a TV celebrity so it makes sense. There's also tables and chairs on the patio outside.the bar is upstairs and pretty small.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rick's Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's right next to the pawn shop which makes convenient if your pawning. It's kind of hard to find a parking space if the pawn shop is busy. I'm really surprised how small the seating area was both downstairs and upstairs where the bar is. The ribs were good and I really liked the macaroni and cheese but $29 for a full rack is kind of high but Ricks a TV celebrity so it makes sense. There's also tables and chairs on the patio outside.the bar is upstairs and pretty small.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chumlees Candy On The Blvd; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The stores in the same parking lot as the Pawn Shop the store is really small I mean really small. It has a few selections of candy but the main draw is Chumlee is there sometimes to sign autographs and take pictures with. It's not a destination is because it's really really small.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Las Vegas Convention Center; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I'm amazed every time I'm there on big the convention center is. When they setup and tear down they drive 18 wheelers inside. The only problem parking can be a hassle and the walk is long. Just to get to a booth is a really long walk but every time I've been there it's been well organized plus there refreshment stands and lots of restrooms. Lots of security and cleaning personal which is great. Make sure you have good directions once your in the convention center because it's easy to get lost.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sprouts Farmers Market; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The place reminds me of Whole Foods just with better prices it's always bright and clean. Lots of choices of organic foods and vegetables. I never bought anything that I thought wasn't good. They gave lots of seafood and meat selections. They also have a nice selection of fresh bakery items I like the Italian breads. Bulk candies and trail mixes are a nice touch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moon Doggies; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a dive bar for sure and hard to find parking I can't figure out if it's a used car lot where I parked. The inside is clean and dark the nice part is there lots of TVs to watch. I came for the pizza you have to order it at the end of the bar at a little window. They have the normal LV slot machines at the bar. The pizza is fresh made and was really good for a dive bar. The pizza place is called naked pizza inside Moon Doggies; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's pretty small and the seats fill up pretty fast but they gave a nice patio If it's not to cold outside. I always have a cramp feeling when I'm in there drinking coffee and trying to do some computer work. It's not the best or worse Starbucks I've been in. No complaints with the drinks; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's pretty small and the seats fill up pretty fast but they gave a nice patio If it's not to cold outside. I always have a cramp feeling when I'm in there drinking coffee and trying to do some computer work. It's not the best or worse Starbucks I've been in. No complaints with the drinks; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's pretty small and the seats fill up pretty fast but they gave a nice patio If it's not to cold outside. I always have a cramp feeling when I'm in there drinking coffee and trying to do some computer work. It's not the best or worse Starbucks I've been in. No complaints with the drinks; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Naked City Pizza Shop; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's interesting the Pizza shop is inside Moondoggies bar there is a big sign but it might be hard to figure out if your a tourist. It's not the nicest looking building from the outside but inside was pretty nice and clean. It's a dive bar so it's dark but there's enough seating and a few TVs. Almost to the end of the bar is the pizza order window and a server will bring your pizza out. I had a few pepperoni slices and I really liked the crust. People say they have really good wings too. I'll be back; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's in a really busy plaza so sometimes it's hard to get in and out of plus the drive thru can be kind of slow and crammed. I really like there fried chicken and the side I think there better than El Polo Loco the problem is it's hit or miss if the chicken isn't fresh it's rubbery best thing to do is ask for a fresh batch and wait than it's really good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's in a really busy plaza so sometimes it's hard to get in and out of plus the drive thru can be kind of slow and crammed. I really like there fried chicken and the side I think there better than El Polo Loco the problem is it's hit or miss if the chicken isn't fresh it's rubbery best thing to do is ask for a fresh batch and wait than it's really good.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's in a really busy plaza so sometimes it's hard to get in and out of plus the drive thru can be kind of slow and crammed. I really like there fried chicken and the side I think there better than El Polo Loco the problem is it's hit or miss if the chicken isn't fresh it's rubbery best thing to do is ask for a fresh batch and wait than it's really good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Walgreens; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's at a busy corner so watch pulling in and out plus also watch lots of shady people hanging outside. The store is really busy and the pharmacy has a line a lot if the time wish they had a blood pressure machine. I stop in if I need something right away your probably better off stopping at another location just because all the vagrants hanging out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Walgreens; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's at a busy corner so watch pulling in and out plus also watch lots of shady people hanging outside. The store is really busy and the pharmacy has a line a lot if the time wish they had a blood pressure machine. I stop in if I need something right away your probably better off stopping at another location just because all the vagrants hanging out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Walgreens; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's at a busy corner so watch pulling in and out plus also watch lots of shady people hanging outside. The store is really busy and the pharmacy has a line a lot if the time wish they had a blood pressure machine. I stop in if I need something right away your probably better off stopping at another location just because all the vagrants hanging out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Walmart Supercenter; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They have a really big parking lot which is good because they need it. It's really rough parking because of the amount of cars. I cant complain I always find everything I need but sometimes the lines are long for self check and the regular checkout. They have lots of security which is good because lots of shady people shop there. The nice thing is I buy a salad and you can seat it at the McDonald's. The fruit and produce always look good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Walmart Supercenter; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They have a really big parking lot which is good because they need it. It's really rough parking because of the amount of cars. I cant complain I always find everything I need but sometimes the lines are long for self check and the regular checkout. They have lots of security which is good because lots of shady people shop there. The nice thing is I buy a salad and you can seat it at the McDonald's. The fruit and produce always look good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Walmart Supercenter; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They have a really big parking lot which is good because they need it. It's really rough parking because of the amount of cars. I cant complain I always find everything I need but sometimes the lines are long for self check and the regular checkout. They have lots of security which is good because lots of shady people shop there. The nice thing is I buy a salad and you can seat it at the McDonald's. The fruit and produce always look good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It gets busy here and it's really hard to park because the lot is really small which it shares with another business. The inside is really small for the amount of traffic so it's hit or miss getting a seat. Lots of shady people around because it's close to the strip. The inside is really nice and clean but your kind of crammed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: If I'm in the area I'll stop but the prices seem higher than other Starbucks in the area but it's nice because it's close to the strip and at least it's not busy all the time. There's not a lot of seating and really the drinks are hit and miss but they keep it clean.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McCarran International Airport; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think it's one of the best airports in the country it's easy to get dropped off at and they have have a passenger pick up that's the easiest I've seen at an airport. Lots of parking and not expensive I do remote parking at a hotel for $8.00 a day. Checkin is really easy and a team takes you to the gate plus lots of food places to eat. Slot machines all over if you still want to gamble. Baggage claim is fast and efficient and than you walk out the door to passenger pickup.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bass Pro Shops; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think the place is amazing I could walk around all day looking at the decor. It's a one stop shop for all your outdoor needs from boats to cloths. If your in the area it's worth stopping just to look around plus it connects to the Silverton casino.
5 STARS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Aquarium at the Silverton Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The aquarium is free and it's inside the Silverton it has hundreds of fish and a mermaid that swims around at certain times. It's worth bringing the children to look at the fish than walk around bass pro shop which is attached. The Silverton also has a lot of good restaurants and free parking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mi Casa Grill Cantina; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The restaurant has really nice decor plus there's a bar to the side of the entrance I had tacos they were really good but I'm going to come back for all you can eat tacos. The server was really nice and I actually felt like I was in Mexico. Margarita was really good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silverton Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a little far out from the strip but it does have free parking and some nice things to see. Bass Pro shop is connected and worth stopping in to walk around also a big aquarium with hundreds of fish. The registration area is really comfortable with leather couches and chairs. The buffet is really good and it's best to sign up for there player rewards cards for promotion. They also have shuttles to the strip and airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guy Fieri's El Burro Borracho; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Good news is if you check in on Yelp you get free chips and salsa. The dining room is really nice and they also have a bar in the restaurant. I had a couple shrimp tacos they were good but not over the top. My friends food was good but I think it's over priced I'd rather watch him on TV and dream about eating the food on the show.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guy Fieri's El Burro Borracho; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Good news is if you check in on Yelp you get free chips and salsa. The dining room is really nice and they also have a bar in the restaurant. I had a couple shrimp tacos they were good but not over the top. My friends food was good but I think it's over priced I'd rather watch him on TV and dream about eating the food on the show.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guy Fieri's El Burro Borracho; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Good news is if you check in on Yelp you get free chips and salsa. The dining room is really nice and they also have a bar in the restaurant. I had a couple shrimp tacos they were good but not over the top. My friends food was good but I think it's over priced I'd rather watch him on TV and dream about eating the food on the show.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carnival World Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's big with lots of choices and always clean with a very nice staff. But it keeps getting more and more expensive each year and the items I like keep disappearing. Years ago they had a great discount for locals now I think it's $2.00. If your a tourist and not eating here each week it's worth trying but it's about $30.00 for dinner. The gelato is excellant; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kiss By Monster Mini Golf; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The nicest miniature golf course I've ever seen and it's inside the Rio casino. Even if you don't like Kiss it's worth coming to check out. Kids would love the miniature gold course and the different video games it kind of reminds me of the old video arcades but on steroids. It's a must see if your in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Pollo Loco; City: Peoria, AZ; Review: I got there later and night and was afraid the chicken was going to be dry but to my surprise it was really good. The 4 piece with 2 sides is $9.99 but if you don't get a drink they take off $1 plus turn in a survey on the back of the receipt get another $1 off plus I used Groupon so take $10 off good deal also the staff were really nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Boulder City, NV; Review: It's the last Starbucks before Hoover dam or Las Vegas depending on which way your going it's in a busy plaza with an Albertsons. The inside is nice but the seats fill up fast. The baristas were fast and efficient I gave no complaints with my ice tea. The place was clean and I liked the decor; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KJ Dim Sum & Seafood; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I really like the place and the decor it's inside the Rio casino across from the Buffet. The Dim Sum is really good but expensive the nice thing is China Town is only a mile away so if I don't have a comp I just drive over to China town; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KJ Dim Sum & Seafood; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I really like the place and the decor it's inside the Rio casino across from the Buffet. The Dim Sum is really good but expensive the nice thing is China Town is only a mile away so if I don't have a comp I just drive over to China town; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KJ Dim Sum & Seafood; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I really like the place and the decor it's inside the Rio casino across from the Buffet. The Dim Sum is really good but expensive the nice thing is China Town is only a mile away so if I don't have a comp I just drive over to China town; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 24 Hour Fitness - Las Vegas Silverado; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's not the nicest 24 in town it's older and the equipment is too. The locker room is one of the smallest I've seen and the showers are to. I can't really fault the gym they do the best they can with the space. The staff has always been really nice but the gym is just to small.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wandering Horse Buffet; City: Scottsdale, AZ; Review: It's a big buffet and wasn't very busy for breakfast there's a lot of your normal breakfast buffet items. $12.95 isn't to bad I'll probably get my monies worth and if you have a players comp you can eat for free. I'll comeback and try the seafood night sometime.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Sometimes the drive they is a little slow but it gets busy being on the corner of a busy intersection it's a little hard to pull in and out of during rush hour, the inside is comfortable if you need to get some work done the staff does a good job I've never had a problem with any of my drink orders.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Sometimes the drive they is a little slow but it gets busy being on the corner of a busy intersection it's a little hard to pull in and out of during rush hour, the inside is comfortable if you need to get some work done the staff does a good job I've never had a problem with any of my drink orders.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Sometimes the drive they is a little slow but it gets busy being on the corner of a busy intersection it's a little hard to pull in and out of during rush hour, the inside is comfortable if you need to get some work done the staff does a good job I've never had a problem with any of my drink orders.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It's in a busy shopping center watch pulling in and out I always seem to get there when the drive thru is busy so I just go inside. The inside is really nice with lots of seating it seems the drive thru stays busy. I started to come early and do work inside I order blonde coffee so my order is always right. The baristas have always been nice even thought there always busy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I like using the drive thru because it's normally faster but this location the line is always long so now I go inside. I'm glad I did the inside is spacious with lots of tables to work at and it's faster to get your drink. I always get blonde coffee but it seems they don't make it after 12am. The place is always clean and the baristas have all been nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: El Pollo Loco; City: Chandler, AZ; Review: I'm glad when I arrived I was the only one in line I always tell them I'll wait till a fresh chicken is cooked it takes a couple minutes but my chickens always really good. I do the survey on the back of the receipt for $1 off and I don't get a drink plus I find specials on Groupon so my 4 piece chicken and 2 sides cost about $6 which is a really good deal. No problems with the staff or the restaurant being clean.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Penn & Teller; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I was comped so I do t know the price but people say it's pricey you can try to get discounted tickets at the discount kiosks on the strip. I thought it was an excellent performance with lots of comedy and magic it was also educational I learned things I never knew before.plus the Rio has free parking so you can eat and gamble after the show.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Chandler, AZ; Review: Not a lot of parking and the inside is the smallest of any freestanding store I have seen only 3 tables and a long table. There is a patio out front with a few more tables. Probably best to go through thedrive thru the place was clean and we'll lit. The barista was really nice and didn't realize that the store is really small; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jogoya Sushi Seafood Buffet; City: Chandler, AZ; Review: For $11.29 for dinner it was a good deal they had a nice amount of seafood and sushi was what you would expect. I was surprised it was the cleanest Chinese buffet I've seen and the owner was always checking the buffet to make sure it was full. Nothing stood out as being excellent but nothing wasn't good for the price it's a good deal. I'll be back; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Talking Stick Resort; City: Scottsdale, AZ; Review: The parking lot is huge it took me a while to figure it out guess your better off valeting. The buffet was really good with lots of items I looked at the menus for a few restaurants but found the prices a little high I think the buffet is the best price. The casino looks like your normal casino gambling floor. I was really impressed by how nice the poker room was it was well lit and very clean plus all the tables and chairs looked new and were comfortable. I loved all the TVs and the free coffee plus the room had lots of action going on. 5 stars to the poker manager.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: El Pollo Loco; City: Gilbert, AZ; Review: Just traveling through I was really impressed with my meal it was excellent I even took a pic. I always do the survey on the back of the receipt and they take a dollar off plus I use a Groupon and get another 10% off.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wynn Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The whole casino is beautiful everything from the restaurants to the stores are expensive but it's worth walking around to see everything. There's to much to mention but make sure and visit the atrium with all the flowers. Also if your able to see the pool area is pretty famous. Mall Cop 2 was shot there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Las Vegas Uniforms; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I would say it's the biggest selection of u informs in the city plus they have big and tall cloths which I always have a hard time finding. The cloths are a little expensive but but the quality is better than other clothing stores. They also have a large selection of work shoes. Robert at the door was very helpful on where to find what I was looking for.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: WOW can't beat the $12.99 full rack of ribs till 3/17. I also like that they have TVs in the bar area so you can watch the game and eat the $6.00 appetizers from 3-7. The decor is really nice and I have no complaints with the service. You can also eat at the bar. Join there club and get free chips and salsa with each order.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It the first casino I hung out at when I arrived in LV it's really changed over the years it's a few miles from the strip so it caters to the locals. The buffet is nice and really inexpensive about $11.00 for dinner. A really nice movie theater and a TGI Friday's amongst other restaurants. Right next to registration they have a small mountain that has robot animals on and they gave shows nightly. Nice size poker room and sports book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boulder Station Hotel And Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It was place to hang out years ago when I moved to LV it's really improved the buffet is really good now plus the prices are reasonable. The poker room has one of the wildest Omaha games in town and now doesn't smell like smoke. They also have a nice movie theater and childcare center plus you also have some other nice restaurants. Join there players club for some really good slot promotions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boulder Station Hotel And Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It was place to hang out years ago when I moved to LV it's really improved the buffet is really good now plus the prices are reasonable. The poker room has one of the wildest Omaha games in town and now doesn't smell like smoke. They also have a nice movie theater and childcare center plus you also have some other nice restaurants. Join there players club for some really good slot promotions.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Boulder Station Hotel And Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It was place to hang out years ago when I moved to LV it's really improved the buffet is really good now plus the prices are reasonable. The poker room has one of the wildest Omaha games in town and now doesn't smell like smoke. They also have a nice movie theater and childcare center plus you also have some other nice restaurants. Join there players club for some really good slot promotions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It was nice to see a TGI Friday's at Sams Town casino the inside was just as nice as any other one. Tre appetizers are hard to beat from 3pm/6pm in the bar area. Also they have a Rack of Ribs for $12.99 till March 17. Join there rewards program and get free meals after so many points. The staff is pretty quick they have a bar too with TVs; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chapman Las Vegas Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I bought a van there years ago and it was a good experience I purchased it from Woody the internet manager. Now I come in for oil changes it takes about an hour and a half each time but they do a really good job and they do a 100 point inspection. It was $55.00 which I think is reasonable. The waiting room has coffee and donuts. They have a oil change coupon when you check in on yelp but they don't honor it because it expired 4 years ago. It's fast paced there but everyone has always been nice,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's in a busy plaza in China town and the parking is bad but if you can find a spot the store is really nice. You can park in the China town plaza and walk around than go across the street and get a coffee. The drive thru is pretty busy and your going to wait I always get a reg coffee and order inside so I never have a problem .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To See Roll; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I liked the I interior decor with nice wooden tables there's no table service you pick what you want on the hanging signs. I got the tune poke bowl and it was around $10 and really good. Lots of healthy choices. Everything tasted fresh too with large portions; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Buy SW Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's always my go to place for electronics there a one stop shop and always have what i need. The place is always bright and clean the staff is always helpful and there's always slot of them running around. I've used the geek squad a couple times there really good but I think a little expensive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smith's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a little more expensive than the other grocery stores but I like the baked chicken deal. 2 pieces and 2 sides for $3.99. I go a lot at night and I always find market down items that are still good. The deli and produce secretion are always looking good and they do have some great specials on fruit. I like getting coupons in the newspaper.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Smith's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a little more expensive than the other grocery stores but I like the baked chicken deal. 2 pieces and 2 sides for $3.99. I go a lot at night and I always find market down items that are still good. The deli and produce secretion are always looking good and they do have some great specials on fruit. I like getting coupons in the newspaper.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Smith's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a little more expensive than the other grocery stores but I like the baked chicken deal. 2 pieces and 2 sides for $3.99. I go a lot at night and I always find market down items that are still good. The deli and produce secretion are always looking good and they do have some great specials on fruit. I like getting coupons in the newspaper.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Portillo's Hot Dogs; City: Scottsdale, AZ; Review: The best hotdogs in the country I didn't think I I would like them with all the topping but they were great. I love the decor and always spend time looking at everything.the only downside is there is normally a line mostly on weekends. Also the brats are excellent; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I always stop when leaving the airport from terminal 3 it's really convenient because it's on the right hand side. The drive thru us busy a lot and I never have very good luck there so I park and go inside. It's a nice little Starbucks on a busy corner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Henderson, NV; Review: It was easy to find a parking space today because the lot is small and other places also use it. I had a strawberry frappachino and it was really good I like to sit on the patio. The baristas are really nice I've never had a problem; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The place is huge and is a long walk to everywhere inside but the decor is beautiful and so are the statues. The buffet has long lines and is definitely over priced I was there once and they do have a lot of quality choices. There's multiple pools and there all real nice plus after you swim you can shop at the famous forum shops. The gambling floor is probably the longest in LV but at least you can stop at the food court in the middle. They also have bars and restaurants outside on the grounds.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's inside the Orleans casino and is always busy but you can also eat at the bar if there's a line for the tables. I always get the appetizers that are on special for $6.00 from 3pm-7pm. The foods always been good but I just feel it's over priced probably because it's in a casino. I always ask for server Tori she's really nice and efficient.weekend nights there's always a line but if you join there club you get a lot of specials. Service has been better and it's hard to beat the $6.00 appetizers and $12.95 full rack of ribs. The hostess named Jackie has the best personality of any hostess at a TGI Friday's nationwide.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Einstein Bros Bagels; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's your normal Einstein's it's clean inside and the staff is nice. Sometimes it takes a while for the order and to get waited on. The bagels are always good but the smear seems expensive it's almost the price of the bagel. Coffees alright not the best or worse the place is a short walk to the Palms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bacchanal Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's 60 some dollars for dinner and there is always a line I guess people want to say they ate there. Lots of quality food selections but for the price it's just not worth it. The best deal is to get a Groupon or if you lose enough money the casino will comp you. They do have the biggest selection of seafood on a buffet in LV.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: IKEA; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's an amazingly huge place I actually got lost inside I don't think there directions are very good. I was really impressed by all the furnished rooms they had so I could see how the furniture looked setup. The Swedish meatballs for $7.99 were amazing plus they had a huge dining room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle Mile Shops; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: If your around Planet Hollywood it's worth stopping and walking around the shops it feels like your outside in the Middle East with the buildings. Lots of shops and food the theater is also in the area. It will take you in a circle and you can exit at LV boulevard. Also park for free in the Miracle Mile shopping center garage and walk right in to the mall.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The good part is it's right on the strip and has free parking it's easiest to enter on Harmon ave at the Planet Hollywood sign and go into the garage and follow signs to self parking you'll enter at the Miracle Mall and walk through the shops to the casino it's really nice there. The casino is nice I never gamble there but they have lots of nice restaurants and bars. I like walking through the mall. Plus you can park and walk the strip for free because there's no parking fee; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gordon Ramsay Burger; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The whole restaurant is really nice and there's so many pictures of Gordon Ramsay you would swear he is there plus you can buy Gordon souvenirs. It's nice that it's in Planet Hollywood as us right next to the strip. I had the bleu cheese burger it was good and almost $16.00 I can now say I ate there but to me a burger is a burger and it was an expensive Burger but the decor is awesome.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Conservatory & Botanical Garden; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Amazing Amazing Amazing every time I stop I'm more amazed plus it's free and easy to get to go right through the registration area. I am sad they took out the staircase from the movie Oceans 11. Also you can eat at one of the expensive restaurants that are on the side of the walkway. If you have allergy's to flowers you will know right away. It's a must see if you in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bellagio Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's hard not to give it 5 Stars the fountain show out front is amazing and so are all the high end shops. It has a conservatory next to registration and is a must see also lots of high class restaurants and bars. The poker room is really nice and the buffet isn't the biggest but has all quality food. It's expensive but it's free to walk around and look.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Busy McDonalds connected to a gas station and across the street from IKEA it's the only McDonalds I've ever seen with a giant fish tanks. I on bought an ice tea but I add mesmerized by the fish it's also a little hard to find a parking space but it's your normal Mcds with a giant fish tank.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Busy McDonalds connected to a gas station and across the street from IKEA it's the only McDonalds I've ever seen with a giant fish tanks. I on bought an ice tea but I add mesmerized by the fish it's also a little hard to find a parking space but it's your normal Mcds with a giant fish tank.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Busy McDonalds connected to a gas station and across the street from IKEA it's the only McDonalds I've ever seen with a giant fish tanks. I on bought an ice tea but I add mesmerized by the fish it's also a little hard to find a parking space but it's your normal Mcds with a giant fish tank.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's next to a busy gym and sometimes I have trouble parking. The store isn't very big and sometimes I have trouble finding a seat inside but they gave a really nice patio and most of the year I sit outside it's especially nice at night. The crews pretty fast but it's all relative to how busy it is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The hotel/casino has a great location in the middle of the strip and is the oldest casino. Donnie and Marie are the headliners and there pretty good. The buffet has been remodeled and is not the best but not the worst. I really like the courtyard with the Flamingos and duck ponds it's nice and relaxing. You can also take the dean to different casinos and take an elevator to the Linq.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The hotel/casino has a great location in the middle of the strip and is the oldest casino. Donnie and Marie are the headliners and there pretty good. The buffet has been remodeled and is not the best but not the worst. I really like the courtyard with the Flamingos and duck ponds it's nice and relaxing. You can also take the dean to different casinos and take an elevator to the Linq.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The hotel/casino has a great location in the middle of the strip and is the oldest casino. Donnie and Marie are the headliners and there pretty good. The buffet has been remodeled and is not the best but not the worst. I really like the courtyard with the Flamingos and duck ponds it's nice and relaxing. You can also take the dean to different casinos and take an elevator to the Linq.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and no seating area but it's right next to the elevators going to the guest rooms it's more expensive than a corporate one but it's the only game in town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and no seating area but it's right next to the elevators going to the guest rooms it's more expensive than a corporate one but it's the only game in town.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and no seating area but it's right next to the elevators going to the guest rooms it's more expensive than a corporate one but it's the only game in town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's small and no seating area but it's right next to the elevators going to the guest rooms it's more expensive than a corporate one but it's the only game in town.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ports O' Call Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The nice thing is I show up and walk in there's never been a line and it's real spacious so people aren't sitting on top of you. They gave Prime Rib every night but Friday and crawfish every night those two are my favorite and there always good. They have 5 different food stations for people with different likes. Use your players club for discounts it's not the biggest or Best but you'll find something you'll like.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ports O' Call Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The nice thing is I show up and walk in there's never been a line and it's real spacious so people aren't sitting on top of you. They gave Prime Rib every night but Friday and crawfish every night those two are my favorite and there always good. They have 5 different food stations for people with different likes. Use your players club for discounts it's not the biggest or Best but you'll find something you'll like.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ports O' Call Buffet; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The nice thing is I show up and walk in there's never been a line and it's real spacious so people aren't sitting on top of you. They gave Prime Rib every night but Friday and crawfish every night those two are my favorite and there always good. They have 5 different food stations for people with different likes. Use your players club for discounts it's not the biggest or Best but you'll find something you'll like.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown Plaza; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I like walking around Chinatown and looking in all the shops and reading the restaurant menus. They gave a big Chinese grocery store that's a one stop shop for all your needs. It's hard to pick a restaurant because there all good I like the bakery shop inside the main mall. It's always clean and safe most of the restaurants are open till early morning.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cromwell - Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's on a busy corner of the strip it's mostly known for the home of Drais night club. It's one of the longest casinos and it's really dark but kind of classy I was at the sports book and the seating was very comfortable but not very big. They a few really nice bars on the side of the casino floor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cromwell - Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's on a busy corner of the strip it's mostly known for the home of Drais night club. It's one of the longest casinos and it's really dark but kind of classy I was at the sports book and the seating was very comfortable but not very big. They a few really nice bars on the side of the casino floor.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cromwell - Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's on a busy corner of the strip it's mostly known for the home of Drais night club. It's one of the longest casinos and it's really dark but kind of classy I was at the sports book and the seating was very comfortable but not very big. They a few really nice bars on the side of the casino floor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The LINQ Promenade; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: If your entering from the strip the Ferris wheel is located at the end they were doing construction in the middle probably from the last flood a couple times a year it turns into a river. It's nice to walk from the strip because it's a street with no cars and lots of shops and restaurants lining it. It's worth walking to the Ferris wheel and looking at the sights.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The LINQ Promenade; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: If your entering from the strip the Ferris wheel is located at the end they were doing construction in the middle probably from the last flood a couple times a year it turns into a river. It's nice to walk from the strip because it's a street with no cars and lots of shops and restaurants lining it. It's worth walking to the Ferris wheel and looking at the sights.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The LINQ Promenade; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: If your entering from the strip the Ferris wheel is located at the end they were doing construction in the middle probably from the last flood a couple times a year it turns into a river. It's nice to walk from the strip because it's a street with no cars and lots of shops and restaurants lining it. It's worth walking to the Ferris wheel and looking at the sights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Go Greek Yogurt; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Best yogurt I've ever tasted the shop is right behind the Venetian waterfall and sometimes a staffer is standing there handing out samples. The yogurts are made everyday and they have amazing toppings. 7 OZs is 7.95 and worth it. It's a must stop. best I've ever tasted; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The LINQ Hotel + Experience; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's pretty plain but it's nice it borders Harrah's outdoor bar that has live music and lots of action at night. The casino itself isn't the best or worse but they had one of the most comfortable Sportsbook area I've seen with lots of comply chairs and even a lazyboy with lots of TVs and a bar I would probably go there and watch sports games. The casinos location is great right on the strip and the promenade that goes to the high roller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The LINQ Hotel + Experience; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's pretty plain but it's nice it borders Harrah's outdoor bar that has live music and lots of action at night. The casino itself isn't the best or worse but they had one of the most comfortable Sportsbook area I've seen with lots of comply chairs and even a lazyboy with lots of TVs and a bar I would probably go there and watch sports games. The casinos location is great right on the strip and the promenade that goes to the high roller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The LINQ Hotel + Experience; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's pretty plain but it's nice it borders Harrah's outdoor bar that has live music and lots of action at night. The casino itself isn't the best or worse but they had one of the most comfortable Sportsbook area I've seen with lots of comply chairs and even a lazyboy with lots of TVs and a bar I would probably go there and watch sports games. The casinos location is great right on the strip and the promenade that goes to the high roller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Rock Casino Race & Sports Book; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Big with lots of seats and TVs and a nice bar attached to it. I'm playing in the piker room next to it but came over to make a bet there was no line and I was in an out. There's not as many TVs as most sports books but how many games can you watch anyways.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Rock Casino Resort And Spa; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's the only casino within miles and it's easy to get to from the 215. If you want to take the long scenic way from the Fremont exp just come straight west on Charleston avenue and you end up here. It's really big and has a lot of restaurants plus movie theater,bowling and a food court plus a Starbucks. For gamblers lot of machines,poker room and a big sports book of your in the area it's worth stopping plus the buffets pretty good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TC's Rib Crib; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Best ribs in town plus the price was really good because I used a Groupon the servers were really polite. The dining room isn't that big actually the place isn't that big but the portions and the taste of the food was Big. Like I said best baby back ribs. Burnt ends and brisket plus 2 sides $21.95.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metro Pizza; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's one of the smaller locations and it's in a busy shopping center so you might have to walk a little to the restaurant only 3 spaces in the front. The pizza is excellent and they give you fresh bread while your waiting. I get the Gotham pizza every time I come. I eat between 2:30 and 5 because the pizza is half price. That's a deal; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Verizon Authorized Retailer - GoWireless; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a small store and doesn't have a lot of merchandise for sale but lots of phones and they can do most anything a corporate store can do. The staff was really nice and fixed a couple problems with my phone. They also let me stay and back up my phone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zero Degrees; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's in a great location right next to the planet fitness I go to and in a shopping plaza on Flamingo. lots of parking but the store isn't very big so if it's busy seating is sparse. They sell a lot of the boba drinks and other fruit drinks and people say there really good but I love the Mac an cheese. It's about $6.00 a serving but it fills me up and they also have really good lunch specials.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mirage; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The volcano is one of the best free shows on the strip it runs nightly at 8pm 9pm 10pm weather permitting it's worth watching. Also the like the show live with the Beatles and the dolphin habitat. The casinos like all the east just smaller and older. They have a few nice restaurants but the shows are the draw. Oh I forgot I hate the pay parking and the resort fees; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Treasure Island; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I really liked the place in the past because of the nightly Pirate battle but it's closed now but they did add pay parking and resort fees. It's an older casino the best part is location it's right next to fashion show mall and has a pedestrian bridge to the Venetian. The poker room was a big draw years ago but that to slowed down. The buffets pretty good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MGM Grand Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I went to the boxing match at the arena which was really nice and a good view even from the top seats. It's really hard parking because the entrances are both on rally busy street be prepared to walk because this casino is huge. I've found some good room discounts on line but by the time I add parking and the resort fee it's not such a good deal. I park at Hooters and walk across the street saves me $12.00. They do Have a lot of good restaurants and good slot promotions for locals.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MGM Grand Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I went to the boxing match at the arena which was really nice and a good view even from the top seats. It's really hard parking because the entrances are both on rally busy street be prepared to walk because this casino is huge. I've found some good room discounts on line but by the time I add parking and the resort fee it's not such a good deal. I park at Hooters and walk across the street saves me $12.00. They do Have a lot of good restaurants and good slot promotions for locals.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MGM Grand Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I went to the boxing match at the arena which was really nice and a good view even from the top seats. It's really hard parking because the entrances are both on rally busy street be prepared to walk because this casino is huge. I've found some good room discounts on line but by the time I add parking and the resort fee it's not such a good deal. I park at Hooters and walk across the street saves me $12.00. They do Have a lot of good restaurants and good slot promotions for locals.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Excalibur Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Ok it's not the nicest hotel or casino but I thought the mid evil show with the knights and horses was excellent where else can you eat with your hands and nobody stares at you. Plus it has a tram and bridges to other casinos. The mid evil architecture is one of the nicest looks on the strip it really looks great at night. It's also a great place to take photos of the knights plus you might run into Merlin. The buffets not that great but it's not hard to find a 2-1. The pools really nice. I've never stayed at the hotel because the reviews are pretty scary but I like being in a castle so I always stop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Excalibur Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Ok it's not the nicest hotel or casino but I thought the mid evil show with the knights and horses was excellent where else can you eat with your hands and nobody stares at you. Plus it has a tram and bridges to other casinos. The mid evil architecture is one of the nicest looks on the strip it really looks great at night. It's also a great place to take photos of the knights plus you might run into Merlin. The buffets not that great but it's not hard to find a 2-1. The pools really nice. I've never stayed at the hotel because the reviews are pretty scary but I like being in a castle so I always stop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Excalibur Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Ok it's not the nicest hotel or casino but I thought the mid evil show with the knights and horses was excellent where else can you eat with your hands and nobody stares at you. Plus it has a tram and bridges to other casinos. The mid evil architecture is one of the nicest looks on the strip it really looks great at night. It's also a great place to take photos of the knights plus you might run into Merlin. The buffets not that great but it's not hard to find a 2-1. The pools really nice. I've never stayed at the hotel because the reviews are pretty scary but I like being in a castle so I always stop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Excalibur Hotel; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Ok it's not the nicest hotel or casino but I thought the mid evil show with the knights and horses was excellent where else can you eat with your hands and nobody stares at you. Plus it has a tram and bridges to other casinos. The mid evil architecture is one of the nicest looks on the strip it really looks great at night. It's also a great place to take photos of the knights plus you might run into Merlin. The buffets not that great but it's not hard to find a 2-1. The pools really nice. I've never stayed at the hotel because the reviews are pretty scary but I like being in a castle so I always stop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's a huge casino/hotel that is at the end of the strip and it's a long walk to the other casinos plus it's expensive to park at the hotel I always park in the convention parking lot and walk from the convention center to the hotel. The shark reef is amazing mostly if your a child it's easy to find coupons don't pay full price. There's lots of restaurants and shops but everything including the coffee is expensive. The pool is really really nice with waves and a beach. I like like Sunday buffet it's great quality where comfortable shoes and bring suntan lotion if your goi g to the pool so you don't look like a lobster at the buffet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Luxor Hotel and Casino Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I've never stayed there but I go every once in a while because I like that it's a pyramid and I don't have to travel across the world to see King Tuts tomb plus I like all the Pharos statues. It's the most uniquely built casino on the strip but it's older and you have to pay for parking. It's resort fee is also high at $40.00 and the buffet is so so. The good thing is it's a team station and you can jump on and go to other casinos.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: Is a nice spacious restaurant with great decorations right off the casino floor. I love the wing appetizer and it's only $6.00 during happy hour for 10 Wong's. Another great meal is the full rack of ribs it will definitely fill you up. The salmon is always dry and it's $17.00. The service is always pretty fast. The new donut cheesecake is really good. Also the happy hour wings for $6 is a great deal. I always ask for kimiko she a really good server.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: One of the biggest and nicest I've seen but it's in the Venetian in the convention hallway which means it's really busy a lot of times and no drive thru. It's a great place to do some work it's really comfortable you'll pay a little more for the drinks.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sprouts Farmers Market; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I love Sprouts it's like a cheaper Whole Foods with the same quality. The store is always well stocked and the produce fresh. Lots of good looking fresh fish and steaks. The employees are always nice and helpful my favorite item is the super fruit muffin.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Henderson, NV; Review: The service was a little slow but it was busy the food was your normal Mcds quality but if you use there app you can get some pretty good deals. I got 2-1 Big Mac so that was a pretty good deal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Henderson, NV; Review: The service was a little slow but it was busy the food was your normal Mcds quality but if you use there app you can get some pretty good deals. I got 2-1 Big Mac so that was a pretty good deal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McDonald's; City: Henderson, NV; Review: The service was a little slow but it was busy the food was your normal Mcds quality but if you use there app you can get some pretty good deals. I got 2-1 Big Mac so that was a pretty good deal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Neon Museum; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I really like seeing all the signs for the casinos that were imploded or changed names they have all the old signs and it's easy to get to right down the street from the Fremont experience. It's cost a few bucks to get in but it's worth it and they gave a small gift shop. A lot of movies and tv shows were filmed here. There's a nice little trail through the signs if you have children don't let them run around the signs stay on the path.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Madame Tussauds Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's easy to get to you can even park at the Venetian garage for free and walk next door it's better to purchase tickets online or at the discount kiosks located around the strip because it's almost $30 at the door. I'm amEd how real the celebrities look and at the end of the tour there's a gift shop.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic - The Artifact Exhibition; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: You can find discounts online I'm a local so my price was $29 and I didn't pay for parking because I rode the tram to the casino. I loved the movie so it was nice to see some of the artifacts. Make sure you take the sound tour and listen. it's free if you checkin on Yelp also to remember to turn your phone to silent. The tour takes about an hour but it's worth it lots to see.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Earl of Sandwich; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's nice that it's in the Miracle Mall and has the best prices on sandwiches I had the tuna melt it was really good and under $8. They have lots of tables it's a great place to eat and people watch. Plus it's open 24 hours and only a few second walk to LV boulevard.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I think it's one of the most beautiful casinos in LV with the best view. It's located at a really busy intersection so be careful pulling in and out but it's hard to beat the location on the strip it's an easy walk to most places. I always say the casino is ultra modern because of the chic interior the chandelier bar is s must see. I wouldn't say it's the best casino to gamble in they have to pay for the interior beauty somehow.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ARIA Resort & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: The casino is big and I always have trouble figuring out where to park which isn't free and neither is the Valet. The casino is really nice and the younger crowd hangs there but the poker room is one of the best and busiest. I also like the sports book it's a great place to hang out and watch the games. I've never had the buffet but people say it's really good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AMC Town Square 18; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They have discounted movie nights so check before you go to get a discount. The theater is normally really busy and it can be a little dirty because of the amount of people that watch movies daily. They do have a bar I can never figure out why it's not open actually I've never seen it open. But if you go on the right night you can see a movie at a good price compared to other theaters plus get there app and join the club for added discounts.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AMC Town Square 18; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They have discounted movie nights so check before you go to get a discount. The theater is normally really busy and it can be a little dirty because of the amount of people that watch movies daily. They do have a bar I can never figure out why it's not open actually I've never seen it open. But if you go on the right night you can see a movie at a good price compared to other theaters plus get there app and join the club for added discounts.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: AMC Town Square 18; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: They have discounted movie nights so check before you go to get a discount. The theater is normally really busy and it can be a little dirty because of the amount of people that watch movies daily. They do have a bar I can never figure out why it's not open actually I've never seen it open. But if you go on the right night you can see a movie at a good price compared to other theaters plus get there app and join the club for added discounts.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel and Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I've stayed there a couple times when family were in town the rooms were old and not that nice but adequate for the price. now they added on a resort fee that's about the same as the room price online so no more good deals. If you have children it's the best place to stay because they have free circus shows everyday and an adventure dome. It's located at the end of the strip which means your not walking to the strip casinos. The gambling limits are low so that's good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel and Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I've stayed there a couple times when family were in town the rooms were old and not that nice but adequate for the price. now they added on a resort fee that's about the same as the room price online so no more good deals. If you have children it's the best place to stay because they have free circus shows everyday and an adventure dome. It's located at the end of the strip which means your not walking to the strip casinos. The gambling limits are low so that's good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel and Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I've stayed there a couple times when family were in town the rooms were old and not that nice but adequate for the price. now they added on a resort fee that's about the same as the room price online so no more good deals. If you have children it's the best place to stay because they have free circus shows everyday and an adventure dome. It's located at the end of the strip which means your not walking to the strip casinos. The gambling limits are low so that's good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: It's really small and the customers are mostly locals and not the cream of the crop. It's pretty smoky and dirty. The buffet isn't worth it but they have a few good breakfast deals at the restaurant. Also the table limits are low to attract people and they have some pretty good slot promotions.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Floyd Lamb Park At Tule Springs; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: My favorite park in Las Vegas it's a little bit of a drive from LV but it's worth it. It's an actual oasis in the desert and the pond is stocked with trout and catfish. It's an $6 entrance fee but you can buy a yearly pass for about $30. Best place in LV to have a picnic with tons of room for the kids to roam. Don't feed the geese they will chase you and bite really they will bite. It's a must visit if you live in LV; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pittsburgh International Airport; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's gotten a lot easier to fly out of Pittsburgh the drop off was fast and the Delta counter was right there. A little line at the TSA but not a long line. Lots of restaurants and things to see in the terminals.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pittsburgh International Airport; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I love the traveler friendly layout plus lots of staff members to answer questions. Also lots of great places to eat and drink. A lot better experience from years ago. Good job Pittsburg; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TGI Fridays; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's small but it's right next to my gate and they have the same food and bar. Good place to hangout before my flight I just had a burger and fries no complaints. Convenience is key; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Primanti Bros; City: Moon Township, PA; Review: Nice to gave a Primanti Bros right here at the airport. I always get the fish sandwich ya always falls apart but it's good and fills me up plus the price is reasonable. I always think about getting everything separate but what would be the point of getting a Primanti sandwich.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quaker Steak & Lube; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I love the decor and it was $10 wing Tuesday I had the whiskey flavor sauce and it was excellent. Tawnya seated me and did a great job explaining the point club they have and also told me all the specials. Tammi was my waitress and she was really nice she also explained all the specials. I think it's worth eating there just to see all the cars and motorcycles inside food and service was excellent I'll be back; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: Nice big and spacious I really like the seating arrangement plus the seats were comfortable. They also have an outside patio I just ordered coffee no complaints the staff was also really nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Federal Galley; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I just stopped in for a burger it was 5 pm and the place was hopping I think there was a pirate game tonight. It's a pretty big place with a nice bar it's pretty loud and hard to gave a conversation but the food was good and they had TVs if you decide to stay at the bar.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Point State Park; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I stayed at the Wdym hotel across the street it's really nice with a large open lawn where they gave conservative with a great view of the river and city. The main attraction is the huge fountain at the point of the park. If your in town it's interesting to stop walk around and read the history of the park.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duquesne Incline; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: Best deal in town it's 5 dollars round trip for the best view in town must have exact change. It hasn't changed since I was a little kid but it is a little shaky and I'm scared of heights but it's worth the view.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oakmont Bakery; City: Oakmont, PA; Review: WOW it's really big and a lot nicer than the old bakery but the parking lot still gets packed and if your leaving town it's impossible to pull into at rush hour. The items are incredible and it's a must stop.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: At $1800 and free parking it's not a bad price to see animals from around the world. It's an older zoo but it's easy to navigate but sometimes the animals are hiding. It's a nice place to spend the day with the family but during the summer the lines can be long.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glen's Frozen Custard; City: Springdale, PA; Review: I had the Georgia peach custard and it was excellent I would eat the custard everyday if I could. If your passing by it's a must stop it's hard to get good custard and they have been serving it for 30 years. No complaints service is fast and friendly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: Great location on the city side of the Roberto Clemente bridge with easy walking to PNC park and downtown. The decor inside is really nice and the lobby is one of the nicest I've seen. It also has a nice restaurant and bar inside. But the best thing about the hotel is the location you can go anywhere in the city from there on foot.Great view from the rooms too; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Walter's Southern Kitchen; City: Lawrenceville, PA; Review: I love the smell of the barbecue cooking outside I had a half chicken for lunch and it was delicious. It's easy to find on the main drag with lots of street parking. The outdoor patio makes you feel like your down south I didn't have the ribs but my friend said they were really good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naturoll Creamery; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's a must stop if your in the area I like the rolled ice cream concept. My freshly made ice cream was different types of berries and was made on a flat spinning disc right in front of me. It was really nice of the young lady who made my ice cream to explain step by step the process. It's a must stop really make some time and stop; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Primanti Bros; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's a Pittsburgh tradition and in a great location on a side street in the Strip District the parking lot is not very big but lots of on street parking. I normally get the Ruben of fish sandwich really big size sandwich for under $10 always fills me up plus the coleslaw and fries on the sandwich is a unique way to serve it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maiku Sushi; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I've stop there 2 days in a row there's only about 8 tables but Ive gotten a seat each time and the same waitress who is really nice. I get the beef, tripe,meatballs Pho it's $12.50 and really filling. The owner has been there each time and is really nice. Lots of street parking; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FRIO Creamery; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: WOW. Penn State creamery ice cream with lots of flavors. What else can I say wish I lived in the area; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merchant Oyster Company; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: Great oysters and it's even better if you stop buy at happy hour when the oysters are half price. Because of the decor and smell you would think you were on the beach at the Ocean. The staff was very nice especially the shucker so if your on Butler street stop in. Plus they have a nice bar; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DiAnoia's Eatery; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I love the decor I feel like I'm in Italy but I'm actually in the strip district. The menu had a lot of great Italian dishes but sad to say I was hungry for spaghetti which tasted like my grandmother made it. Just enough meat sauce and the noodles were done perfect not soggy. The waitress was super nice no complaints the spaghetti was $14 but your also paying for the atmosphere.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Triangle Bar & Grill; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I went past a couple times before I stopped in I'm from out of town and the neighborhood looked a little sketchy with not a lot of parking. But once inside it was small but nice with a few people in line to get subs. I ordered a corn beef/pastrami sub and it was really good. Customers I talked to said all the subs are delicious. It's a must stop if your in the area. The menu is posted in the pics they have different sizes I got the med. steak and cheese. WOW; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salem's Market & Grill; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: The Food is excellent you know that because there's a line every time I'm their. I always get the lamb rice and spinach it's about $11 but you get a huge portion the nice thing is there's plenty of seating and TVs so you can watch sports. Also there's a market attached for uncooked items to take home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Primanti Bros; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's unique and worth trying if you've never had ff and coleslaw on your sandwich. Not a lot of parking because the place is always busy but I like the decor of the restaurant plus the sandwiches are under $10. Give it a try; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ki Ramen; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I live the place right on Butler street in Lawrenceville and actually one of the only ones I found in Pittsburgh. The decor is really nice and you get a big bowl of ramen they didn't have the bowl I normally eat but they made it close. It's about $15 for the bowl but it filled me up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ki Ramen; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I live the place right on Butler street in Lawrenceville and actually one of the only ones I found in Pittsburgh. The decor is really nice and you get a big bowl of ramen they didn't have the bowl I normally eat but they made it close. It's about $15 for the bowl but it filled me up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ki Ramen; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I live the place right on Butler street in Lawrenceville and actually one of the only ones I found in Pittsburgh. The decor is really nice and you get a big bowl of ramen they didn't have the bowl I normally eat but they made it close. It's about $15 for the bowl but it filled me up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bill's Bar & Burger; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's right inside the Westin hotel and within walking distance to a lot of place downtown plus the bar is a few steps from your room. The burgers are good but expensive but the decor is 5 stars and it's normally busy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bill's Bar & Burger; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's right inside the Westin hotel and within walking distance to a lot of place downtown plus the bar is a few steps from your room. The burgers are good but expensive but the decor is 5 stars and it's normally busy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bill's Bar & Burger; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's right inside the Westin hotel and within walking distance to a lot of place downtown plus the bar is a few steps from your room. The burgers are good but expensive but the decor is 5 stars and it's normally busy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Milk Shake Factory; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: Probably the best milkshakes I've tasted there not very big and mine was $6 but there very tasty. Parking is on the street but there's parking lots. The decor inside was really nice with a few tables the neighborhood isn't the best but you'll be OK. I love the strawberry banana.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Candle Lab; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: WOW I've never seen anything like this and it's right on Butler street I loved the smell when you walk in . You can pick the flavors of candles you would like also they tell you the burn time for the candle that must be a Boring job to figure that out. Also lots of other candle related items to buy. It's a must stop; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whitfield; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's a 5 star restaurant in the ACE hotel I really like the decor and actually the hotel is an old YMCA. I only had a hamburger and FF it's excellent and around $10. People have told me there steaks are excellent and after dinner you can hang out at the bar right next to it. Very comfy place; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butcher and the Rye; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I joined a friend for dinner I wasn't really hungry so I had the Mac n cheese WOW it was really good it's hard to believe Mac n cheese could be that good I was also surprised there weren't more meat options but the decor was really nice and I like the bar upstairs with comfy seating. I would come back just for the mac n cheese but the rest of the menu was pretty expensive; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pesaro's Pizza; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: We were working in the area they have a special large pep for $9.99 and it was large plus really good. They also have delivery there's no seating inside but they've been around a long time so lots of people like the pizza; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Condado Tacos - Lawrenceville; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: Best tacos and busiest bar in town. I stop in for the happy hour food and drink specials. The tacos are really good but a little bit on the high side price wise but it is on Butler street. The bar is happening place and great place to stop on weekend nights; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thunderbird Cafe; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I wish I would of got to see the place before the renovations and it did take a couple years but the place is awesome now and matches the rest of Butler street.i didn't get to see a concert but the new stage looked really good plus the new menu also looked good. I'll be back; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fat Heads Saloon; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: I heard about this place and was in the area so I stopped in for lunch. I had the pretzel appetizer and pirogi appetizer and both were good the pretzel was $10. It was really good and big plus the cheese sauce was really good. The pirogies were fried and not bad they were $8. Seemed a little expensive but the interior was welcoming I'll be back to taste some of the sandwiches.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Charlotte Douglas International Airport; City: Charlotte, NC; Review: It's one of the smaller airports I've been to but I made it through customs got my luggage back through security and to my gate with a minute to spare. They had a lot of staff available to answer questions. The airport was clean and the people friendly; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Concourse B - Charlotte Douglas International Airport; City: Charlotte, NC; Review: WOW I was happy how organized the airport was and how easy it was to get to the concourse use security gate B and you'll be right there. It's also small so your not walking 10 miles; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant; City: Monroeville, PA; Review: I love the salad and soup which is unlimited. I always get email specials that keep bringing me back. The service is always good they probably have the highest employee per customer of any chain. I like the decor and the place is always clean; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Airlines; City: Charlotte, NC; Review: It was a problem free flight the staff at checkin are always nice and helpful. The place was clean and the stewards were very nice. No problem at luggage if you do they have staff there. I'm was satisfied and will fly AA again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pittsburgh International Airport; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's gotten a lot easier to fly out of Pittsburgh the drop off was fast and the Delta counter was right there. A little line at the TSA but not a long line. Lots of restaurants and things to see in the terminals. After flying to many different airports I have come to the conclusion Pittsburgh is one of the nicest and easiest to get around in the country.
Great Job Pittsburgh; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pittsburgh International Airport; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It's gotten a lot easier to fly out of Pittsburgh the drop off was fast and the Delta counter was right there. A little line at the TSA but not a long line. Lots of restaurants and things to see in the terminals. After flying to many different airports I have come to the conclusion Pittsburgh is one of the nicest and easiest to get around in the country.
Great Job Pittsburgh; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Benny Fierro's; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: It was really good the slices were thin and crisp but I think the claim to fame is the huge slices that take up 2 plates a slice with pepperoni is about $5. I can say I ate there and the pizza was good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meat & Potatoes; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: The decor was nice I think it's a little cramp but I'm big. It's really expensive but I had the siniturr pot roast and it was really bi I took some home the meat was tender it was excellent service was also top notch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: When you sign up for there club they send you email specials and I always use them for good deals. You can beat the all you can eat salad and soup I always get the wedding soup it's excellent. The place is clean and the service is always fast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Milk Shake Factory; City: Pittsburgh, PA; Review: The shakers are great maybe a little expensive but fresh ingredients and I really like the decor always clean and well lit. I always get the large strawberry and cream for about $6 it's excellent..; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Walking: Weight Loss Motivation: Lose Weight, Burn Fat & Increase Metabolism; Author: April Stride; Review: Good information. No actual plans written out. Good suggestions on eating and finding accountability, suggests to make walking a habit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Expressive Nature Photography: Design, Composition, and Color in Outdoor Imagery; Author: Visit Amazon's Brenda Tharp Page; Review: Helpful if one wants to learn about photographing nature.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon 80D Experience - The Still Photography Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Canon EOS 80D eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas Klostermann Page; Review: Great help for someone trying to learn what all the 80D is capable of.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC for Photographers Classroom in a Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Lesa Snider Page; Review: More in depth info.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Enthusiast's Guide to Lightroom: 55 Photographic Principles You Need to Know; Author: Visit Amazon's Rafael Concepcion Page; Review: New to Lightroom. Looks like it will help with learning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How Do I Do That In Lightroom?: The Quickest Ways to Do the Things You Want to Do, Right; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Kelby Page; Review: Good info.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Boogie Hostel; City: Wroclaw Lower Silesia Province Southern Poland; Review: This is the Cheappest Hostel i ever been. VERY VERY VERY Clean, in the Heart of Wroclaw,,, close to the night life,, Many disco and pub around. everything was cheap . Nice reception, common area whit television, nice kitchen, SAFE, the switched me the second night in another room ( initially i booked in a 8 beds dormitory room) and the last they they moved me in a 2 beds shared :-) Amazing.. I absolutely recommend this Hostel... too cool; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CheapSleep Helsinki; City: Helsinki Uusimaa; Review: Everithink new. Clean - safe /- Huge common area - really nice new Kitchen . Nice bath And shower. Nice Bed. 15 minuts by Bas from the Central station. Many bus come Here.. So good location.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dream Hostel and Hotel; City: Tampere Pirkanmaa; Review: Clean - nice - few minuts from the railway station. The best beds i never seen in many years that i traveled. Nice common area - new excellent Kitchen. - many bathroom And shower. I recomend it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old Town Hostel; City: Split Split Dalmatia County Dalmatia; Review: First when i get there it was very hard for me to find the hostel... i took many time to find it.. i was 10 metres from the main door but i did not find it... (yellow ‘Svijet knjige’ bookshop on the right. Our entrance is the white door on the right, ) remember this.. after i found it i undestood that it was in a excellent Location...it was in the Diocletian's Palace.. Really cool. Everithing close..Bar-Restaurant-pub- Ferry and bus... The Hostel it self was clean-Nice-confy beds, good lockers... The Staff ( Antonia) too too nice.. and lovely Definitily i want to come back... just 1 thhink i did not like.. 9:00 am i was wake up by 5-6- girls that talked load in the common area... so may be they need to write : please dont tolk like.. from 10 pm to 10am may be... I think it happend because they were a group ... so is common that a group talk loud... i Definitely want to come back in this Hostel....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Globetrotters Tourist Hostel; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: I booked a 10 beds male dormitory room, and the second night after midnight i saw a girl coming to the room ... She Was there untill i left the hostel.. this can be not professonal .. for me was ok a girl whit 9 guys... but can be a problem for girls if they book the female dorm and then a guy sllep there... :-) Except this... Everithing ok They dont provide lockers in the dorm but youc an ask to leave your Important thinkgs Upstair and anytime you have to ask for them. every time you get in you have to Buzz... but it mean that the Hostel is safe because you also have to show a card that they give to you...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bendene Townhouse; City: Exeter Devon England; Review: Everithing ok. The Girl at the reception she was nice Whit Me.. The hotel is i a good location ( 5 minuts walk from The Rail station) 10 minuts from the city centre Very Clean room, TV color, Internet wi-fi free, Excellent breakfast... nice dining room... Id like to stay again at the bendene...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Al Barsha Hotel Apartments by Mondo; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: I stayed at Al Barsha appartment... Everithing good... The Room very big..spacious--- i booked a double room because i did not found i single room... The staff at the reception was nice... There is a swimming pool at the last floor..whit a Gym.... In the Room you have got everithing: i never seen something like that: Kitchen, fridge, Wash maschine, Hiron, Tv color..radio , stereo for mp3, cd, The guys that clean the room was also nice. I like to stay again if i will come back to Dubai... itwas in a good location, just in front of the metro... and 10 minuts walk from Mall of he emirates...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Emirates Park Resort; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: The Guy at the Reception ( Said) Was very pofessional. He was also friendly... nice person.... i arrived tired.. late in th eveving..he gave me an amazing Room... all the room are new.... Clean, Nice, Faclities 100%,,, very nice Bathroom .. in the entrance you got a nice tv color... sofa', and kitchen .... So..Said suggest me to visit the ZOO... it was my first time in a zoo..i did not expected it... Really cool... and if you have CHILD... this is the Best Place for you.. there is also a KIDS Park... everithing close... togheter.... Another amazing Person was the Manager Magdy, I been to the restaurant, just 1 minute by walk from the Resort... and when the Manager saw me there he told to the manager that i was a guest from the Hotel and they give me 2 more dishes( Startar) vegetable..olives, carots.. salad etc... Very Nice... So you also got a restaurant there.. Very very Cheap and excellent Food.. what i tried was the Beef strogonoff.. and was lovely Amazing place... i'd like to come back very soon whit all my family because this time i was just by myself---; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Residence; City: Abu Dhabi Emirate of Abu Dhabi; Review: The BEst Think is that you have all the facilities of the Hotel Le Meridien, like Smiwing pool... :) and private beach, and gym as well... My room was just 2 minuts walk from le Merdien, it was a single room whit a Double bed, the room was not huge... very small bathroom but it was ok. Excellent Wi -fi but only in the Hall. No WI-fi in the Room. Good location... close to the Mall,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greg Tom Beer House Hostel; City: Krakow Lesser Poland Province Southern Poland; Review: Greg and Tom beer House Hostell.. is the most Clean- chic Hostel that i never seen. only 15 euro... per night in the 6 beds mix dorm.... you get a free Shot on arrival,, and free Dinner every night.... The HOstel is new... Very nice.... Unic i think... they have bar at the main flop... karaoke room, dining room... 3 dining room sorry... Really AMAZING... is in a eccellent location... just in the main street....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WIRA Guesthouse; City: Hamburg; Review: To find a Cheap place to stayi n Hamburg..is not Easy. Wira Guesthouse it Was. Not only, ... My room was clean, the bathroom all the Time clean... nice kitchen if you wanna cook some food, The Receptionist VAIDA was really nice..she answer to all question that me and my friends we made.... she was like a friend...very Helpfull... the place is not far from the Central station..by metro only 2 stop... For sure when i will come back to Hamburg i will stay again at Wira guesthouse!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anker Hostel; City: Oslo Eastern Norway; Review: The HOstel was good. good wi-Fi nice common area at the reception, each room have got a kitchen but you need to borrow the Cutleries and staff to cook for 10 Euro. ( that can be expansive) The Staff was nice, nice locker if u dont have your own padlock you can buy 1 there,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flying Pig Beach Hostel; City: Noordwijk South Holland Province; Review: In a really nice area: Nordwijck , there is Fly pig Beach hostel, really cute hostel whit nice common area - Bar - smoking rome and terrace . i was in teh mix dorm and we had 1 safe for each bed. they organize 1 euro shot party, batle shot, there is biliard where u can play, u cana lso play beer pong, The staff is so nice. U can use the Kitchen if u have your own food; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DREAM House hostel; City: Kiev; Review: Very Cool Hostel. i like how it is oerganizzed. At the Entrance in the right you got the 24h Reception - and in the Left Side u have a bar open unitl midnight. So cool. Also outside there is a big table whit a Gazebo where u can drink smoke andmeet other travelers . The Hostel is very clean and Brand New i think. my room was cozy.. there was no fridge but is ok .. The is a Really very equipped kitchen at the downstairs floor that u can use... also Loundry, excellent wi-fi in all the building. i spend there only 1 night because i had flight conncetion to Rome so, definitely i wanna come back there when i come back to kiev :) Around there is a Market - a change if u need to change money and few restaurant. The lady at the reception was nice also if she charged me 4 time my amount, but when i realised it i explain her that she charged me 4 time my amount. and she say not.than she asked to someone and she give me back the money for the mistake. she was so nice, every body make mistake, is important that u can fix it :) I loved this Hostel...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apple Hostel; City: St Petersburg Northwestern District; Review: The girls at the reception are super friendly :) The Hostel is in a very good location - free wi- fi ( work better in the common area than in the room ) free Loundry amazing :) Good showers Iron available Good and very cheap restaurant around; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beachfront Hostel; City: Tel Aviv Tel Aviv District; Review: Really Cool Hostel.. amazing Staff-.. All the STAFF was Nice, i remember Liran that was super cute. And the 2 girls when i arrived, then another whit long hair... all the staff :) I stayed in a 4 beds dormitory room, there was also a sink in the room and a fridge. So cool the shower had hot Water, and FREE BODY Wash... amazing :) good wi-fi , good breakfast for 6 us dollars, but the aiter does not speack very good english :( so i did not know what i eat :( I wanna come back in this Hostel :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bulldog Hotel; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: Well organized Super common area You can go by walk any where - u can Also rent a bike around - 15 min walk u got the Train station Red District l just few minuts wolk from the hostel It is safe . Please do the Keukenhof tour Millions toulips to see - but i think it is available only in the summer season ( april - may ); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostel Cat; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: i only stayed 1 night at Cat Hostel. There was free cocktail when i arrived..so cool :) they organize every night something... and they have amazing common area ...they also have cheap tour ... in the morning you can make free pankake :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rivoli Cinema Hostel; City: Porto Porto District Northern Portugal; Review: Im steel At the Hostel and i Wanna give this review So good location , very very clean . Te breakfast until 11:00 :) :) :) They organize something every night :) the roof is super cool .. Best facilities ... And so cheap . Less then 1 minuts From the metro station.. The Room are decorate d very nice ... Good wi if in all the histel and 4 computers available For free :) :) :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avenue Deschanel B B; City: Schaerbeek Brussels; Review: I m thinking whitch words to use to describe this place , i Just Can say i want my Home Like this Beb . Is so luxurious, modern , the most clean place in 70 ( hostels Beb and hotel ) i visited. This is the Winner. Yuri is an amaZing person. If u Like modern thinks please stay here :) U use a iPad to switch on the tv, and the lights :) so cool The breakfast amaZing , in the bathroom u find everything , a small modern kitchen in the Room Whit a frigo bar Whit many drinks , I want my house Like this So Happy that i booked here; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunset Destination Hostel; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: Maddalena welcome me Whit an amaZing SMILe :) she show me the amaZing histel that is Like a SPA ,,, there is a pool , a massaie Room where u Can GET a cool massaie after a stressing day o an energetic massage to start the day - the Room clean and unique - eric - Oscar - Carolina - all the staff was nice , Luca at the bar very professional . I Wanna come Back soon :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home Lisbon Hostel; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: The Staff is incredibile , always smiling :) the hostel is Like a luxurious hostel For cheap , the Room was the best in 70 hostels i visited , bathroom and shower really good and so clean - very very cool common and relaxing area , really cooooool location - and then the mamma ... When u arrive please book her dinner :) see u soon guys ... I had the best night ever Whit the pub crowl - thanks also to thiago that organize d the pub crowl ... Miss u; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Pillows Boutique Hostel; City: Sliema Island of Malta; Review: The Hostel has an amazing kitchen - a cozy reception - a cool terrace - a sweet common area - nice rooms - air con in the room + fans . Strong wi fi - when I arrived I told them that the Handle was broken - when I comed back to sleep the handle was fixed - they were so fast and professional - what I can add? Book this place when you are in malta - the location is amazing , you go in San giulian or la Valletta by bus - everywhere actually . And close to the hostel there is everything . I really loved two pillows hostel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freeborn Hostel; City: Timisoara Timis County Western Romania Transylvania; Review: The Staff is so sweet - the guy whit long Blonde Hair and raul Was so nice - i hade no Chance to meet the other gay- but he went whit us to the new hostel - the location is Amazing , only few minutes away from the main square - where you find everything ) the common area is cool - just take a seat around the table and you will meet all the others travelers from around the world and this hostel organized for us the best tour ever - thanks to freeborn hostel staff we really enjoyed timisoara , the girl ( Ursula) that did the tour in Italian was amazing , now we know everything about timisoara - whit her we went for lunch , the. In the best ( pasticceria) we stayed in the new hostel and it is so cozy , clean and colorful :) Raul was a little bite busy but I know when he finish this new hostel whit be available for everybody :)) is a sweet person . Thanks freeborn hostel , hope to see u in the next 2 year in God Will . Consiglio viva mente a tutti gli Italiano Che vogliono visitare timisoara il freeborn hostel - Siete esattamente Nel cuore della citta' e Lo staff e ' pronto ad aiutarvi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Euro Youth Hotel; City: Munich Upper Bavaria Bavaria; Review: Pretty nice hostel well organized - the best part is the bar whit good deal for happy hour - but steel cheap later . The bed was confy and the locker are amazing ( big ) so you can out your luggage inside. A nice sink whit a mirror is available in the room . The bathroom are nice even the shower and downstairs there are a lot of bathroom available . The position is perfect , just 2 minutes away from the central station - that is not bad , I'm used in Rome where the central station is kind of dangerous . Good hostel - book here when in Munich; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Babylon Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: I Visited so many Hotel , bed and breakfast and Hostel but i never had such a bad experience like at the babylon. I booked this Hotel because they has nice rooms, ( suites) when i booked trough their website the price was 2400 instead of 3000 bath. When i get there around 11pm they guy at the reception did not find my reservation, and i had to wait about 25 minutes at the desk, i showed the e mail theta i got when i booked and the guy called many time the manager. i really dont know why they did not have my reservation, is was 11:30 pm then they sayed there is a room available for me, they found it after he made different calls to the manager but the price he told me is 3000 bath and not 2400 . i showed my e mail and he sated this is impossible, ( but i received the e mail from their website) and i keep asking why they have to charge me more if the price is 2400 bath - he sayer really sorry but thats the price. So i booked trough they website , the price was 2400 and after 40 minutes when they founded my room they want to charge me more because the guy at the desk did not understand why i received that e -mail. of course that is not my flat, and that was not professional. i left the Hostel at midnight, and i had to find another Hotel ( lucky i had a phone with internet so i was able to book another Hotel and very lucky that found a taxi just outside because he was dropping another guy in that location) You guys cannot be like that with your guest, this is NOT professional, first time ever this happen to me; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Doolay Hostel; City: Karon Phuket; Review: The Best decoration and the BEST common area ever - the best corridor and one of the best bathroom i ever seen . Cool Location, downstairs many bars and restaurant. nice lockers available and air conditioner in the room - Good pa thai they can make in the hostel :) BEST balcony ever and you are just in front of the beach. the girl at the Reception was very nice even the guy who checked me in. i loved this place a lot. the common area and the balcony the Best ever; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Windsor Hotel; City: Sliema Island of Malta; Review: Is a very expansive hotel for what they offer , just say is a 3 stars hotel and decrease the price , then will be ok but don't let me pay 117 euro for a night expecting a 4 stars hotel and then is not because the room is very basic - there was a small fridge with nothing inside - and the mattress not so comfortable - the shower courtain In plastic like a 1/2 stars hotel - nice staff nice balcony with plastics chairs and a basic bathroom -; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel Spa Resort; City: Point Lookout North Stradbroke Island Redlan; Review: Good Cesar salad at the restaurant but too salted - we ordered French fries ( 2 portions ) but they gave them to the wronge table - I don't know about the hotel but the restaurant should be more organized; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frienz Backpacker Hostel Auckland; City: Auckland Central North Island; Review: I traveled around 95 hostel in the world , and here I had a really bad experience. I booked the Hostel for 2 nights And I called them to say I was coming after midnight at night But I miss my flight and I arrived the day after Dear Friendz Staff I have to say that I'm upsad about the cancellation of What they did? They cancelled my reservation I also manage a hostel in Italy and before I cancel a reservation I contact the guest especially if he called us telling that he had a night flight We don't cancel directly may be because we take care of all our travelers We send 3 e mail then we try to call If the reservation is for 2 nights we steel keep the 2nd night and if he does not show we charge it I visited also more than 95 hostels and this is the first time that the staff did not help me if I have a problem The lady at the reception could help me finding another place , even a glass of water is nice . We do this when situation similar happen , may be we take care to much , may be because we are Italians of may be because we are humans At friendz Hostels I did not receive it So I hope this will no happen anymore and your hostel will get better I wish you all the best; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Asylum Sydney; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: I Had the best welcome Ever at Asylum - this hostel is situated in a amazing location , only 1 minutes from kings cross station. Outside full of shops, restaurants , pubs , super market . The Staff is so nice , and they really take care of you . Amazing common area outside and nice tv room inside - plenty of bathrooms , nice kitchen. I got upgraded , my trip in Sydney started well -); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frienz Backpacker Hostel Auckland; City: Auckland Central North Island; Review: I stayed in so many hostel , almost 120 , and here I found the worst staff Ever. I book a bed for 2 nights but I arrived the day after ( of course I called them do inform them about it ) and they cancel my reservation and they charge me the amount. They did not even helped me to find another accommodation . Never meet a so rude staff; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rhode Island Novelty Blues Brothers Sunglasses, Black; Brand: Rhode Island Novelty; Review: Used these at a church event to hand out to the kids - the frames held up surprisingly well, and they looked great in the pics. Absolutely worthless as sun protection.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miz Mooz Women's Emily Pump; Brand: ; Review: These shoes are great - perfect way to pump up a plain pair of shirt/jeans. The green is very rich, and the piping detail & buttons give them a cute retro vibe. SO happy with these!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wanted Women's Medici Sandal; Brand: Wanted; Review: These definitely run small - gonna have to send 'em back. I'm also concerned about how well they'd hold up, as the woven side panels are very thin; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sanzia Women's Sandi Slingback Sandal; Brand: Sanzia; Review: I generally wear a wide width with these type of shoes, but sadly even the wide is too narrow. They look nice, but they feel very plasticky, and the liner is visible through the side cutouts; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Set of 36 1/8" Crystal Stud Earrings, 18 Pairs, on Nylon (Plastic) Posts; Brand: GIRLPROPS; Review: Yes, some of the gems are a noticeably crooked on the posts, but these are a great option for my daughter - she has a variety of hypoallergenic pairs to choose from, and I won't flip out if she loses one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alilang Womens Antique Golden Tone Faux Pearl Floral Flower Cream Rose Bib Necklace; Brand: Alilang; Review: This is a nice design with the ivory flowers, gold-tone leaves, pearls, and rhinestones and is a great way to elevate a basic outfit. I'm happy with my purchase, but did pop out the large teardrop rhinestone and reglue it, as it was noticeably "off" in the setting - taken care of in less than a minute with tweezers and superglue, though. (EDIT: I paid under 12 bucks, price has since gone up); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Easy Street Women's Vail Mid-Calf Boot; Brand: Easy Street; Review: I was excited about these, but had some issues. Even though I ordered wide width, they were a bit too snug so were going back anyway. Even if they'd fit properly, though, I probably wouldn't have kept them. The gray is darker than I expected, and somehow I missed the fact that the heel is covered in the same fabric. I know how hard I am on shoes, and those heels would be looking awful after wearing only 3 or 4 times... Sad, because I really liked the style overall!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kenneth Cole REACTION Women's Uptown Girl Flat; Brand: ; Review: The size 11 flats I purchased fit OK, although they do seem to run a bit small (or seem to due to the pointed toe). I was surprised when I received, them, though. Yes, the external heel is only .25" but it has a stacked heel hidden in the shoe which means the actual heel height is about an inch. This detail is really difficult to tell from the photos.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Havaianas Metallic Sandals (Various Colors), 6, Metallic Gold; Brand: ; Review: Was excited to try these out after reading all the glowing reviews, but sadly they were too small. Also, the dark brown is much more reddish than I had expected.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miz Mooz Women's Warby; Brand: ; Review: I love Miz Mooz, but sadly they don't make all their styles in size 11 - managed to snag a pair of these, and I know I'll wear them often. They're a great style to wear with either jeans or a skirt, and the heel is low enough that I'm not in pain after wearing them for a couple hours. My feet tend to run on the wider side, and these still fit comfortably. The little piece of elastic at the heel to prevent slippage is a great detail - why don't all shoe companies do that?!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lindsay Phillips Jordi Pedi Set Go SwitchFlops Womens Sandals and 3 Nail Polishes; Brand: Lindsay Phillips; Review: My feet are borderline wide, but these flip flops fit beautifully, and love that they come with the nail polishes as a little extra bonus.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novelty Pilot Wings Pin; Brand: BuyCostumes; Review: I was happy when I opened my box and saw this pin in person - but then I went to open the pinback and the wing (to which the closure is mounted) snapped off in my hand. I glued it back together (and the repair isn't noticeable, due to the texture of the piece) but I'm going to glue a new (smaller) pinback to the main body so that I won't have to worry about it breaking again. It looks great, just wish it were a bit better made.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miz Mooz Women's Panama Sandal; Brand: ; Review: This is my all-time favorite brand of shoe. They're always well-made with quality materials, and I love that they come with an extra heel tip. These are super cute, and I like that the ankle strap is just different enough to set it apart from other sandals. The little striped inset detail looks great whether I'm wearing these with jeans or a floaty cotton skirt. FYI - my feet are borderline wide, and these fit fine; if your feet are narrow, you may want to consider adding something like Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball Of Foot Cushion-1 pair; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Smrroy European Style Vogue Gorgeous Crystal Flowers Bib Statement Necklace Hot; Brand: elegantstunning; Review: This necklace is the perfect length to wear with a plain tee, and adds a bit of sparkle to a simple outfit. No, it's not particularly well-made, but honestly, is it something you'll want to wear for years? Highly doubtful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seychelles Women's Mind Over Matter Sandal; Brand: Seychelles; Review: I've been looking for yellow leather sandals for over a year, and was thrilled to finally find something that was offered in size 11. They were a huge disappointment. The leather is very rough and the sole is VERY cheaply made (super lightweight and you can see where the glue oozed out from when the liner was glued in). The front band over the toe area was too small, but then the second strap was weirdly big (and I do NOT have dainty ankles!). The double buckle design would be a huge pain to actually take on & off on a regular basis, so even if they had fit properly I'm not sure I would have kept them. Disappointed in these shoes, but thankful for free returns!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miz Mooz Women's Mitzy; Brand: ; Review: I *LOVE* these shoes - they look great with both skirts & jeans, and they're super comfortable. Size 11 fits like a 10.5; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peach Couture Women's Vintage Retro Button Up A-Line Party Dress with Belt; Brand: Peach Couture; Review: I like the look of this dress, but the fit just didn't work. The waist was quite high, which made the proportions odd (skirt was a about 2" past my knee, and I'm 5'4") I was also disappointed in the construction - the buttonholes were not stitched well (loose zig zag rather than properly sewn) so I was afraid that this wouldn't last more than a couple washings. Sending this one back.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BodyJ4You 18 Pairs Mix Colors Rhinestone Crystal Bling Bling Stud Black Earrings Pin Hypoallergenic; Brand: BodyJ4You; Review: These are more visible due to the black setting, and I love that my daughter can wear them all day without any itchiness or redness in her ears. My only complaint is that the stones are not always glued in properly - many are noticeably off-center (not a big deal since there are multiples of each, but just want others to know); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tosca Classic Medium Shoulder Handbag Style 640; Brand: Tosca; Review: I had high hopes for this bag, but it's going back. I have back issues, so need something smallish and lightweight - this is larger than I'd anticipated, and MUCH heavier; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ETIAL Women's Vintage Floral Zip Mini Wallet Short Design Coin Purse; Brand: ETIAL; Review: I really like the print, but sadly have to return this as I can only fit my license and 6 other cards in there. The zipper on the change pocket doesn't glide smoothly, either; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 18k Yellow Gold, Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver Two Tone Created White Opal and Cubic Zirconia Halo Pendant Necklace, 18"; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: This is small and cute, would work nicely for a teen gift. But I'd recommend replacing the chain before wearing, as the one it comes with will break very easily. I returned, as I am unwilling to invest that additional cost in this man-made opal (pretty, but lacking depth of color); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bernie Mev Women's Fame Wedge Sandal; Brand: Bernie Mev; Review: Really disappointed! I own Bernie Mev Comfi Mary Jane Flat (5-5.5 M US Women) and a pair of Bernie Mev slingbacks with this type of heel. I love them both, and they're both size 41, but these were NOT the same. Footbed was technically long enough, but the straps just didn't fit right - and the front portion is too far forward to be comfortable (kind of feels like a strap over just my toes versus a normal sandal); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: QZUnique Women's Soft PU Leather Fashion Vintage Style Cross Body Shoulder Bag; Brand: QZUnique; Review: I knew this wasn't going to be high quality, but it's even worse than I anticipated. Strap is not even attached to the bag itself (it has to be threaded through the holes in the side) and the edges are stitched with raw edges showing and has a lot of puckering. It's OK to give to my tween daughter to carry around her lip gloss and such, but not much else; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ACEVOG Cocktail Dress 1950's Floral Vintage Christmas Party Dress Plus Size; Brand: ACEVOG; Review: Super cute dress - love the polished cotton fabric with the vintage-inspired print and fit. My only complaint is that there's a bit of a gap on the front around the shoulder area, but I'm still delighted with the dress; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bioworld Marvel Comics Civil War Snapback Hat Cap One Size- Captain America; Brand: ; Review: The fabric almost looks like leather - great purchase for my tween; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LifeStride Women's Promote Wedge Pump; Brand: LifeStride; Review: Even ordering wide width, I couldn't even get my foot into these (and I'm borderline on regular/wide) Really disappointed because they're really cute shoes!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Soft Style by Hush Puppies Women's Dillian Ballet Flat; Brand: Soft Style; Review: I was initially happy with these, but after wearing twice I'm revising my opinion. They're just a smidgen too small - both in how they come to a point (width) and the height. I keep my toenails VERY short, but these were hurting my nails after wearing less than one hour. Very disappointing; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Scarleton Mini Soft Washed Casual Crossbody Bag H1874; Brand: Scarleton; Review: I was looking for a lightweight crossbody bag with a bit of style to hold my wallet and a few small items. This fit the bill, but lining is coming apart after only two months; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miz Mooz Women's Melanie Heeled Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These run narrower than my other MM, and the purple was a disappointment (more like a wine color). Sad I had to send them back; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scarleton Fashion Flap Crossbody Bag H1888; Brand: Scarleton; Review: Handy purse for summer. The cross-body option is convenient when I want my hands free, and strap easily adjusts to a shorter length when desired. It's a good size as well: large enough to stash my wallet, some personal care items and even a paperback -- but not so large that it grows heavy and cumbersome. I wouldn't call the color mint, though, as it definitely has a blue tint. Zippers don't slide easily, but I can't complain too much at this price point.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scarleton Simple Fashionable Hobo Bag H1706; Brand: Scarleton; Review: I have two other Scarleton bags - not super high quality, but love the price and they hold up well for at least a year. I ordered this bag as my fall bag. Sadly, it does NOT have an adjustable strap so it had to be returned. Sad, as the burnt umber color really was beautiful (the gold hardware was a bit obnoxious, though); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Womens Invisible Belt - Elastic Adjustable No Show Web Belt by Silver Lilly; Brand: ; Review: I've tried both the isABelt WIDE Magnetic Clear Belt | 1" Flat Belt, No Bulk and Invisibelt Skinny Lay Flat Women's Belt but I found the plastic uncomfortable. THIS option is so much more comfortable! Now admittedly it's a bit thicker, so the word "invisible" might be a bit misleading... but it *works*; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SUNYIK Women's Stone Crystal Dangle Drop Earrings Teardrop/Oval; Brand: SUNYIK; Review: I'll keep these, but they're not what I expected. The finish on the edge is quite nice, hoping it doesn't tarnish within weeks; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: rockcloud Crystal Stone Dangle Hook Earrings Rhombus/Teardrop Gold Plated; Brand: rockcloud; Review: The main body is cheap looking plastic. The color works with my wardrobe so I'll still wear them, but i'm definitely disappointed; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chic Classic Collection Women's Plus Size 3/4 Sleeve V-Neck Swirl Print Knit Shirt; Brand: ; Review: I liked the color better in person (more green than it appears in the photo) but it was HUGE, and I returned it; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: G2 Chic Women's Lace Tribal Spring Summer Jersey Dress; Brand: G2 Chic; Review: Well I guess this could be interesting if I wanted the appearance of having four boobs. The gathered part is MUCH higher than it appears in the photo.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: LL Womens Lightweight Sleeveless Ombre Open Front Cardigan Vest - Made in USA; Brand: Lock and Love; Review: I was excited about the yellow option (not exactly a common color) but sadly it's going back. I was hoping for a nice mustard color, but the bottom looks like cheese from a can.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Youstar Men's Moto Racer Faux Leather Jackets; Brand: Youstar; Review: Son loves it, great for days when you need an extra layer (but not suitable for really cold winter days); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HyBrid & Company Womens Super Comfy Bermuda Walking Shorts; Brand: HyBrid & Company; Review: I LOVE THESE SHORTS! The plus size shorts are well made, a comfortable length, and have very spacious pockets. I also love that the closure at the wide waistband includes two buttons and two sliders, so everything lies nice and flat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Tivoli Lodge; City: Vail Colorado; Review: The Tivoli Lodge, was where we went 26 years ago for our honeymoon. Around 2004 they tore it down and rebuilt it into a beautiful homey lodge. Romantic where it counts and so comfortable with added features that enhanced our stay. There was water flavored with fresh fruit out all day, extra jets in the shower that hit you in just the right place on your back, a very comfortable soaking tub, are just a few of the amenities. The staff were the friendliest and actually helpful staff that I have had the priviledge to encounter in a long time. Great place. Will go again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tivoli Lodge; City: Vail Colorado; Review: 28 years ago we stayed at the old Tivoli for our honeymoon. Every few years we have returned; with our children when they were small and just by ourselves when they went off to college. We love how the rebuilt has turned the Tivoli into a beautiful relaxing and refreshing retreat location from our busy life in Denver. Every time we return we are reminded on what a lovely job they did and how much we enjoy coming to Vail. It is a quiet, romantic venue now where it use to be really more college/family orientated before. We enjoy the separate soaking tub, great internet service, décor choices, close proximity to everything, but still quiet and with great views.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terrell House Bed and Breakfast; City: New Orleans Louisiana; Review: We had a delightful girls trip with my mom and sister-in-law. The Terrell House was a major part of making it wonderful. Our host Shannon, treated us so well, she was helpful, accommodating and fed us well each day at breakfast. The Creole house that we stayed in was well appointed and fit our needs. Would stay again any time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Schloss Duernstein; City: Durnstein Lower Austria; Review: Read about this hotel and the Wachau Valley in a travel magazine and the article definitely described it well. It was absolutely a delight. Yes the town of Durnstein is picturesque, but filled with touristy shops, but the hotel is a gem. It was fun to wind your way through the narrow cobblestone streets, climb to the castle ruins where Richard the Lion heart was imprisoned and enjoy wine tasting in the area. The real delight was the hotel, quiet, luxurious in an comforting old fashion way. Breakfast and dinner were both superb. The pool and work out room were the best of the 2 week trip. We wanted to go swim and work out but the pool and gym were supposed to close in 15 minutes; they extended the closing time an hour to accommodate us. There was confusion about a booked tour but they compensated by pulling something together for us on the fly. In our room they left a complimentary bottle of champagne to compensate for the missed tour and on check out we received their specialty of apricot jam. I would definitely return. Our room had a balcony overlooking the Danube and the restaurant where we were able to enjoy the piano music that was playing for the diners.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boutique Hotel Heidelberg Suites Small Luxury Hotels; City: Heidelberg Baden Wurttemberg; Review: Cute hotel. Bottled water was free and plentiful. Sparse breakfast buffet. Lovely decorations through out the lodging. Minimal gym equipment. Bed was comfortable and they do have air conditioning. Front desk staff was very helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Coral Beach Noosa Resort; City: Noosaville Noosa Sunshine Coast Queensland; Review: Great place to stay. Went with friends, 6 children between us, ranging in ages from 2 - 10. Excellent double story townhouses. 3 large bedrooms. Plenty of space for all. 2 bathrooms which is really handy. Close stroll down to the river, or local shops, but need a car to get into Hastings street. Tennis court well maintained, very quiet resort. We all loved it & will def be going back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort; City: Biggera Waters Gold Coast Queensland; Review: Hi, we stayed here in 2011, with some friends & their kids - 6 in total. Good caravan park. Stayed in the cabins, which had everything we needed. Was certainly a bit pricy for what it was though. We could have stayed in a resort for similar prices, having said that, taking 6 kids away, its great to have plenty of room for them to run about, without upsetting the other holiday makers!! The pools were great, although packed to the brim with people! We ate in the buffet one night, for conveniece, & wouldnt recommend that - 3 people were sick, coincidence? Not sure??? BUT the fish & chip shop on the corner near the lights - FANTASTIC, best I have ever had, beautiful & fresh, best potato cakes in the world!! Worth a trip to (sorry cant remember the name) Overall, a good caravan park, close to the local attractions (with a car) But on the expensive side for sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Warwick Fiji; City: Korolevu Coral Coast Viti Levu; Review: Ive read lots of good, & lots of bad review on this place, but overall, for what it is, it was a great family getaway! We travelled in July 2010 (bit late review I know!) but we did have a ball, even though it rained for a week.... We stayed for 10 nights & barely left the resort. The kids all had a ball (4, 8, 9) We travelled with family & had adjoining rooms on the Suva wing - def NOT an adults only wing, I would highly recommend it for the peace & quite. We often mixed our own drinks & took to the pool, which was fine. The Fijians are LOVELY people. BULA everytime yo pass anyone, by the end, you are Bullaing all guests yourself. Heaps to keep the kids entertained without even venturing into the kids club, but do go visit Mumma, she loves the kids, & will make them a grass skirt (& matching bra if they like) for only about $3 fijian dollars...then they can do the run with the warriors - which they loved, great photo opportunity. The food was fine, No complaints, but after 10 nights, you have had enough chicken drumsticks for a lifetime (what happens to the rest of the chicken my father in law wanted to know!!!) Kids did get sick of the kids menu after a while...Most definately get the meals package, but skip the drinks one, as I dont think it is worth it. You can walk down the beach & buy things from the ladies & get your hair braided. My boys took their fishing rods, caught heaps of fish, & gave them to the ladies - they were wrapped! Overall, a fantastic family holiday, couldnt fault it for a holiday with the kids.....wouldnt go as a couple though. We made some lovely friends while there, who were all in the same "holiday with kids mode". I would highly recommend this place, as I have done to many friends - who have also had great holidays there!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sea World Resort; City: Main Beach Gold Coast Queensland; Review: We bought a super cheap deal on wotif.com, for $99 a night. 2 kids could stay for free, & as we had 3, we booked 2 rooms. Staff were very helpful in accomodating close proximity of rooms once we arrived. We had a great downstairs room overlooking the pool. Just be aware that the major outdoor waterpark is closed during the winter months. Having said that, the normal pool was really nice, & there is a water playground too, with the dropping bucket etc (although the water is FREEZING) Buffet breakfast was quite OK, although they couldnt ever keep up with the pancakes. We had a newly renovated room, which was nice, however, for more than a week it was a little cramped, & although there was a microwave in the room, there really wasnt any cutlery much to speak of, & there were signs to say you couldnt cook in your room - no toaster etc, which would have been nice with young kids. Overall, an enjoyable holiday, great access to seaworld (cost extra of course) But, we probably wouldnt go back. Been there, done that.....; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sanctuary Beach Resort; City: Currumbin Gold Coast Queensland; Review: What an absolute gem this place is!!!! We stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment,which was double storey, 2 balconys, 2 bathrooms. Great big kitchen. Went with grandparents, husband & 3 children, plenty of room for all. Fantastic fully equipped kitchen, everything you could need. We even arrived early & the cleaner quickly got to work to clean our rooms for us, & let us leave our luggage in there. Under cover parking, Only downside really was the stairs - lots of them. Our apartment was on the 3rd story, which made it difficult lugging up luggage, shopping etc Warm pool - & no one in it! I think some of the apartments have permanents in them. Which wasn't a problem. I also think that they must all be privately owned & communally let out, as each seemed to have different furnishings etc. This apartment was not fancy, older style furnishings etc, BUT perfect for a family of 3 boys, had everything you could need & best of all RIGHT on the beautiful Currumbin beach. Perfect location. We fell in love with this place & will most definately go back....; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sienna Villas; City: Seminyak Kuta District Bali; Review: Hard to know where to begin.....We stayed in The 4 br "puri sienna", 4 couples & fell in love with the place the moment we walked through the big wooden doors! This place is a villa fit for a Rock star plus all their entourage!! The staff were all so lovely & friendly Wayan & Made especially, plus all the other girls.... So much to say, just dont know where to begin.. We couldn't fault this place. The bedrooms were all massive, each slightly different, yet equally lovely. Aircons were freezing, & the staff would turn them on in the afternoon if you didnt have them on... The beds were SO comfy - & the pillows - perfect! The grounds were spotless, as were the 2 pools... So much space & living areas that we didnt even use it all.... Breakfast was delicious. We ordered take out one day from one of the many restaurants on offer & it was delivered by the staff to our villa promptly, & just added to our account. We ordered massages & manicure/pedicures, that were organised within an hour, & 4 people turned up, all dressed in Sienna outfits... (110000!!) We had the seafood feast one night, that the ladies cooked which was gorgeous!! We felt so secure, we never even locked our doors etc. When we went out, the security would come in & keep an eye on the villa... Wayan & Made were very helpful, booking trips, ordering cars etc Close to all the great things Seminyak has to offer. Even a gorgeous pet monkey down the lane, who enjoyed the left over fruit from our breaky!! So much to say....but you must all go & experience the "Rock Star Life" yourselves!! You wont regret it...We will be back!! Thanks Sienna for giving us so many wonderful memories!! xxxxx; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arcadia Motor Inn; City: Corowa New South Wales; Review: Stayed a night at this hotel. Nice clean rooms. Good working heater, electric blankets. Cheap hotel that met our over night needs; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Puri Raja; City: Legian Kuta District Bali; Review: We stayed at the Puri Raja for 4 nights in May. All 8 of us (4 couples) adored this hotel. We went in expecting a 3 star hotel - exactly what it is, & were very pleasantly surprised. I was expecting stinky old towels - ours were all fine! The room did have a faint smell to it, but if the airconditioner was on, it was not noticeable. The aircon's worked perfectly...if not too well! The room access was with a key - not a card, so there was non of this - leave the room & air con goes off business, infact, if we turned ours off, the staff put it back on! We were up the front (reception end) of the hotel, rooms 236, 7, 8 & 9. They were quiet & perfectly located. the hotel seemed full, yet not too many people around. We visited the pool bar on a few occassions - cheap drinks & great friendly service, but ended up going to the other pool at the front of the hotel, as NOONE else was there!! Bizarre...so the 8 of us virtually had our own pool. Breakfast was terrific. You could order whatever you wanted at no cost - we had Nasi goreng most days, plus fruit, plus coffee plus juice (beautiful, fresh made) All included in the cost. One of the guys ordered about 4 things at no cost!! Pool menu is super cheap & good food (not fancy, but fine!) Tom Yum soup was the best i had in Bali! Everything was minimal cost - a few dollars! We ate in the restaurant 2 nights, had drinks & pool snacks, as well as room service late one night & our bill on leaving was about $120 AU!!! We couldnt believe it! Would have cost that for the room service alone at home! The staff were all so friendly, & learned all of our names first off! Ask them for any advice & they are more than happy to talk. They were great. All round, we loved this place. Perfectly located & great value for money. We would return in a flash.!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crown Metropol Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Spent 2 nights at crown with my 3 boys - what a fantastic hotel. Everyone very friendly, from the Valet parking to the checkin. We requested a high room, & were given level 25 - which was terrific. Spacious room - 2 queen beds. All the latest magazines for you to read. Awesome pool for the kids, plenty of towels etc. Close to all South bank has to offer, & a leisurely stroll into the CBD. Highly recommend for a city escape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Gosford; City: Gosford New South Wales; Review: Stopped the night here after traveling from Melbourne. Good cheap pub accommodation. Had a family room with extra bed. All clean & comfortable. Easy check in. Noisy on the street at night ( sat night) only complaint, but to be expected I guess!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crown Metropol Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Another great stay at Crown metrolpol. Check in was a breeze. We got offered a selection of upgrades, for a nominal fee, however I decided against it, as have been happy with the normal room anyway. Beds are super comfy. Pillows & donnas great. Love the large selection of the latest edition magazines for you to have. We actually parked in the Crown multi level carpark, rather than valet parking, & it was a flat rate of $18. Only let down was the pool. It was so crowded it was nearly impossible to find 2 seats. There were hundreds (or so it seemed) of kids & adults there, diving, bombing, splashing etc. The spa looked like a sardine can, there were so many people squeezed into it ~ and the noise level was close to deafening. Needless to say, on a weekend away without our kids, we didn't hang around too long! Its great that the hotel is family friendly (we have stayed with ours before), but perhaps a separate adults pool would be a great addition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Puri Raja; City: Legian Kuta District Bali; Review: After travelling around Bali for 3 weeks - it was like coming home to Puri Raja. The amazing relaxed atmosphere, the friendly staff, right from checkin, to the grounds/cleaning staff. Everyone is always happy & smiling. Great for the kids - 8,12 & 14. Good food by the pool & in the restaurant. Happy hour cocktails delicious. Lots of friendly faces & people to talk to. I booked direct with the hotel (5 rooms) & requested a joining room with the kids - no problem there. They actually gave us 2 joining rooms (although we only needed the one) There is nothing fancy about this hotel. It is just good, clean & what you see is what you get. Ok, pillows are a bit lumpy.....but if its an issue, hot foot it down the road & get one at the shop up towards Spider bar. In Bali, we spend very little time in our room anyway. I couldn't recommend this hotel highly enough, especially travelling with kids. You don't have to tell them to be quiet etc, as there is plenty going on all around. Perfect location, across from the beach & a short stroll to many great places to eat. Do yourself a favour & go!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Regis Griffin Suites; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Really good, large sized apartment, located on St kilda Rd, $15 taxi ride into the city on a saturday night. Beds were comfy, pillows good. Really quiet. We had a room overlooking StKilda road, but could barely hear the traffic. Great view. Good lounge area, kitchen & dining. Would most definitely return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Hotel; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: Welcomed at the airport by super friendly staff. Private car transfer. Quick checkin to room. Great room, large, nice bathroom. Ordered very cheap room service & it was delicious - fried seafood rice & spring rolls. Great peaceful night sleep. Lovely buffet in the morning - heaps of choices. Once again, friendly helpful staff. I asked the hotel to confirm my flight & they discovered that the flight number had changed. Organised our return to the airport. Couldn't fault the hotel or staff. Would mod definately recommend & return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anh Dao Mekong Hotel; City: Can Tho Mekong Delta; Review: We stayed at this hotel for 1 night during our tour organised by Jason Superstar. We were pleasantly surprised by the hotel. It was neat & tidy. Had shampoos, toothbrush etc. The bathroom was very clean & even had a bath. There is a roof top bar that gets manned when you arrive at it - sells really cheap cold beer & the view is terrific. If you are in the area, this hotel is worth a visit. We had room 701 - which I think may be their best room... But for $35 US, cannot complain.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lembongan Reef Bungalow; City: Nusa Lembongan Bali; Review: Really enjoyed our stay here. Be aware, that as everyone says, it's very hilly. We had rooms 7 & 8 which are right up the top & oh my gosh, getting up & down those stairs is a challenge! We are a young, fit family, but this was crazy!! Rooms were huge, but basic. No toiletries so you need to take your own. AC worked well. We had two rooms side by side that they took out the divider to make 1 huge verandah food in the restaurant was really good, we ate several meals here. Very small pool area that was taken over by a couple of families from morning to night unfortunately. Our last full day there the pool was shut as it was the wrong colour, probably too many kids in there! Lol; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Masa Inn; City: Kuta Kuta District Bali; Review: We enjoyed our recent stay here. We had a big family room - 2 double beds & a twin room, set up in the corner with a large outdoor area to share (might be a bit awkward if other guests are in one of the rooms) Good pool area, always a sun chair available. Good location. Breakfast was very average - enough to make you go out for it (& we are not fussy about breaky) We found the beds really hard, but that is personal preference. While the staff are lovely, they are very noisy in the morning, cleaning/emptying bins etc, but as we were next to their store area, this may be why we really noticed the noise early in the morning. Drinks are as cheap as at the shop, & you can drink your own drinks by the pool. Not sure if we would stay here again, but we did like the place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inna Sindhu Beach; City: Sanur Denpasar Bali; Review: Really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. Perfect location on the beach. Plenty of restaurants & shopping within easy walking distance. Rooms were comfortable, staff friendly. Buffet breakfast was good, with daily changes. Unfortunately one morning they were having some kind of celebration on the beach for staff, that started really early at about 6 am. We were woken to blaring noise from then on. Was super loud even inside the room! But apart from that we enjoyed our time here; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Puri Raja; City: Legian Kuta District Bali; Review: We really enjoy staying at Puri Raja...feels like coming home when you have been staying at other places. Once again we were allocated our chosen rooms, up the beach end of the hotel, adjoining rooms. These rooms are actually bigger than the normal rooms, which is great when travelling with kids & all of their associated junk! Staff are wonderful & always great the kids by name, big high fives. Special mention to our all time fav Ketut & Willy the security guard. Our only disappointment with the hotel this stay was their price rises. $6.50 for a large Bintang is ridiculous. They no longer have happy hour or buy 1 get one free cocktails, which was disappointing, & as a result, we actually did not see many people during our week stay even buying many drinks. Overall we had a good stay, & will no doubt be back again!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coral View Villas; City: Amed Abang Bali; Review: Wee moved to this hotel from another one, due to construction works going on. It was a peaceful oasis in comparison. We stayed in the 2 storey family villa, directly overlooking the beach. WOW. Great set up. Lounge chairs on our verandah. Just perfect. We had 2 single beds + an extra bed downstairs & a double upstairs. We had villa 15, on the edge of the property. Aircon worked great upstairs, but not so great downstairs. Beautiful bathroom - outside , huge stone bath, lovely shower. Shampoo, body wash etc in dispensers. A few things that were a little annoying... but still pleased to be there:) The front door was really hard to shut - traditional bali style doors - looked beautiful, but hard to shut - had to bang it over & over again - with kids coming in & out constantly - that did get annoying! Especially as the aircon wasn't great - so we wanted it shut to keep the coolish air in.... Cleaning does not take place everyday...which wasn't really an issue, except glasses etc that had been used remained there dirty, attracting ants... Our wine glasses were taken away by someone on the first day & when we checked out, there was a massive fuss about finding out where the glasses were - I had no idea - they disappeared! At US $180 a night ( which they said was a bargain rate - but was cheaper online) you wouldn't think they would care! Nice quite grounds - not many people about. Breakfast was strange. Nice. But strange. A buffet with bread, a jar of jam & peanut butter... A bowl of muesli. Help yourself to the fridge for juice, milk yoghurt & fruit. Then you could order eggs or a rice dish or something else, depending on the day. It was all nice. BUT the flies were actually SO annoying. Obviously not there fault - but OMG, never seen so many in my life ( & I Iive in Australia!!!) They actually drowned in your glass as you were drinking. After the first day, you learnt to cover everything with your serviette between bites/sips... Something else that was highly unusual..... One of my sons does not drink juice, only water... They have a water dispenser in the restaurant & they charge you to purchase a glass of water, or refill a bottle...... This was fine...but we assumed at breakfast, water would be free..... You get tea, coffee, milk or juice included....but after we left the first day, we were asked to sign a bill...I wondered why & it was for the 3 glasses of water we had with our breaky!! I have never seen that anywhere before! 30 cents ++ a glass, weird, as you could have as much fresh squeezed juice as you wanted for free..... & this was only coming from a dispenser.... My only other issue was that my son cut his foot quite badly in the swimming pool on a broken tile. Had we been home, it probably would have been; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bali Bhuana Beach Cottages; City: Bunutan Karangasem Bali; Review: We checked in to this hotel in January, expecting a beautiful quiet oasis, after a 3 hour drive. This place was anything but. Starting in January they have built a huge concrete wall, dividing the hotel from the work site next door. The pictures on the website & trip advisor all show a lush green garden, however unfortunately this is no longer the case. The property has been divided in half, & a new hotel is being built along side. Obviously along with this comes ALOT of noise, lasting from about 8 am throughout the whole day. As a result of this, we switched hotels. Disappointing for the hotel I am sure, as I heard from a neighbouring warang that many people are checking out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Inna Sindhu Beach; City: Sanur Denpasar Bali; Review: Love this hotel. Staff are lovely. The location is terrific. Stayed with husband & 3 kids - 16, 14 & 10. Had adjoining rooms this trip, not requested but pleased to get. Aircon works well - a little noisy in my room though. Bathrooms are a little grotty - but, hey - you're in Bali! Linen etc all clean. Rooms cleaned daily with fresh sheets etc. Nice breakfast. Seats out on the beach or by the pool. Once again, great staff, always greet you with a smile & a hello. Feel really safe here. Kids can go to the local shop for an ice-cream on there own happily. Pool was very warm in January - but it was SUPER hot outside!! Great cafes etc near by. Cannot recommend enough - we will be back :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Burasari Resort; City: Patong Kathu Phuket; Review: Just returned from a week at this lovely hotel. At check in ( although fully prepaid) were were asked to provide 3000B, or give credit card & were told the 3000 would be returned if not spent with a few weeks. Beinf straight off the plane, we were a bit overwhelmed by this ( until we realised it was only about $100 - lol), so we paid in cash. Shown straight to our rooms 1101 & 1102, directly access in the pool in the back half of the hotel. WOW, we were suitably impressed by the rooms & the location. The AC was nice & cool & the rooms had everything you need - including a restocked mini bar everyday (free), umbrellas, beach bags etc. I would highly recommend the pool access rooms, as there are not a huge amount of sun lounges, so we were glad that we paid the extra money. Also the cheaper rooms do not have chairs etc on the balcony. The breakfast was great - huge selection everyday from Western to Asian - try the soup - amazing. We had a drink in the both bars. Bargains during happy hour - & those nuts in the bar - WOW. Club sandwich by the pool was delicious. Ours rooms were a bit noisy in the mornings, with the staff starting there days & talking quite loudly - we were located near the staff room & the dining room. This did not really worry us, as most days we were up quite early. Overall a lovely stay & we would highly recommend/return. Great location - a stones throw to the beach. A chemist next door, as well as laundry (50 B a kilo) & a min mart either side. Great massage a couple of doors down. OTOP markets just at the end of the street one way, beach the other. Note - if you are staying there in the next few weeks/months it may be worth emailing the hotel, as there are some very noisy renovations going on in the first pool area ( near the elite pol access rooms) We were glad we did not have these, as the banging seemed to go on all day. We did not notice this on our side of the resort.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites Traralgon; City: Traralgon Gippsland Victoria; Review: Recently stayed at this hotel for a wedding (reception was at the hotel as well). We were pleasantly surprised by the outstanding facilities. Check in was a breeze & super quick. Our room - a family suite, was close to reception, overlooking the pool area & the large green lawn. We had 2 separate rooms, with a little atrium area separating the two rooms ( although still joined by a small walkway.) The beds were comfy - 1 queen & 3 single beds, each room had its own flat screen TV. There was plenty of space for 5 guests. The rooms were clean & tidy & very quiet. I would most definitely recommend this hotel for anyone traveling to this region.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inna Sindhu Beach; City: Sanur Denpasar Bali; Review: Just finished up an 8 night stay at Inna Sindhu. I must say, I left feeling quite disappointed in the place. I have been highly recommending this hotel to all for years, but probably will not anymore. As usual, the trainee staff were lovely, so eager to learn & help. Not so much most of the older staff. Upon check in, after returning for the 4th time in as many years, there was no acknowledgment of the fact that we were returning guests...thats fine, I don't expect red carpet.... But, our rooms - well... They were actually quite grotty & dirty. The curtains and the walls were filthy. The bathrooms average. We booked 5 rooms, as were travelling as a group. Out of the 5 rooms - 4 of them the airconditoners were working well below average - 3 of them barely blowing even slightly cool air. Twice I spoke to reception about this & they assured me they had fixed them. It was barely any cooler in our room than outside. This made sleeping very difficult. I had to shower & wet my hair before bed every night. The hotel no longer has a basketball for the kids to play with - there is a hoop alongside the beach. When my kids asked for the ball, they said "No it broke". Wouldn't you think a large hotel would buy another ball?? We went to Hardys & bought one for $6 which my kids then left at the bar for everyone else to use as well. Service on the beach is nearly non existent. You need to wave your arms around like crazy to get someones attention, you'll buy a drink & they won't even take away the used bottle/glass. Very strange as there are heaps of staff standing around doing nothing. Cleaners in the room were good & friendly, but incredibly slow. Mid January all of the retiree Dutch tourists seem to take over, not very friendly to other guests or the staff, & you need to get to the beach or the pool early if you want a chair...... Over all, we love the location, but will probably find another hotel for our next stay....as this hotel hasn't seen a clean in the 4 years we have been staying!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kuta Townhouse Apartments; City: Kuta Kuta District Bali; Review: This is a well run complex. Huge apartments. We stayed in a 2 br deluxe apartment , plenty of room for a family of 5. We were located in stage 2, our balcony overlooked the street. Apartment was quite noisy in the mornings with street traffic, although this did not seem to bother the sleeping teenagers. Air con worked well. Large fridge in room which was good. Breakfast was really good. Drinks were well priced around the pool. Restaurant attached was great as well. Staff were really friendly. Money changing in the hotel was easy & safe. Organised transport through the hotel for airport pickup, which went smoothly. Jack the driver told us to prebook our next transfer to our next hotel (literally around the corner) at a cost of 200 000 for 2 cars. We did not do it on the spot, as we had literally just gotten off the plane (he wanted me to pay for it then as well). A few days later I arranged with the front desk for the transport - at a cost of 100 000. Once we had settled our account (being charged an additional 30 000 for a broken glass, which i found very unusual) we waited for our organised transfer. We waited over an hour. It did not arrive. No one seems concerned about this. Eventually Jack the driver turned up & told me I should have booked it through him, not the front desk. All seemed very strange. Front desk ordered some cabs. This took another half hour or so for 1 to arrive, the other did not show. 3 members of our party walked to the other hotel - took them 5 minutes. Jack was very concerned that this was a bad look - 11 of us hanging around the foyer with all our bags, (although this was certainly not our fault, after waiting over an hour!!!) so Jack then offered to put us in the black stump van with some luggage, & the rest got in a cab. We payed him 100 000 for the one car. Personally I would have thought the hotel may have just offered this as complementary after their mistake, and wasting our time. Apart from this, the hotel was good. Only downside was large groups of adults taking over the toddlers pool, which I thought was really inappropriate. Drinking in there with their own music speaker. Hard to get a chair by the pool. We ended up going down for a swim, putting our stuff on the lawn, then just going back to our room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melbourne Marriott Hotel; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Stayed for 1 night this week on a scoopon mystery hotel deal. A great package included sparkling wine on check in - think this is offered to everyone, valet parking, room , a twin red/white wine package & breaky. We arrived early (11am) thinking we wouldn't have our room yet, but we're pleased to be upgraded to another room as ours wasn't ready! Staff were all lovely & chatty. The lovely doorman carried our bags upstairs for us as we had our hands full (of champers). Nice & tidy room. Toiletries were really lovely. Decent room service menu. Buffet breakfast the next day was great. Everything you could need, including make your own fresh juice. We were given a 1 pm checkout so no need to rush. Perfect hotel if wanting to be near theatres, parliament or China town! Would we return? Absolutely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Surfers Paradise; City: Surfers Paradise Gold Coast Queensland; Review: Just returned from a 3 night stay here. Lovely clean hotel. Beautiful pool area. Lovely friendly staff. Had access to the executive lounge that was nice & quiet. Nice place to sit, enjoy a diet coke & an ice-cream & play some cards with friends. The Bar was awesome & also very quiet. Enjoyed meeting Annalise & sampling the delicious cocktails. Reasonably priced pool drinks & snacks. Room service was also reasonably priced. Great ocean views. Comfy beds. Nice crabtree & evelyn toiletries. No toothbrush though... Only fault would be that there was no furniture on the balcony. Some chairs & a table would have been nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wyndham Beijing North; City: Beijing; Review: Stayed here as part of a tour group, so had no option. Pros Comfortable bed Cons Dirty linen. We arrived late, about 2 am, so slipped into bed for a few fours sleep. The following evening did the same thing without checking the bed as so tired. The next morning, pulled back the doona looking for socks & there was a massive blood stain on the sheets that certainly did not come from me! Made me feel ill as I'd slept in in 2 nights!! Breakfast - dreadful on so many levels. Stale pastries. Disgusting Chinese food. Awful eggs. Not enough tables, mugs, cutlery. Pool - rude staff, 1 member told me he didn't work there when I asked where the towels were, but then told my child off for not wearing a swimming cap - so he worked there when it suited him! Had to buy swim cap, but had " run out " of cheap ones so paid $100 yuan for 1. Restaurants had non English speaking staff & crazy expensive. $108 yuan ( $20 odd ) for a pot of tea!! All shut early too. Nothing near by. Very isolated. Would I return? Not in a million years; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Delta Hotels by Marriott Hotel Shanghai Baoshan; City: Shanghai; Review: Hotel is crazy over the top. Looks like a bit of Dubai in outer town Shanghai. Very far out of town, about 1 1/2 hour drive in traffic. Over the top opulence, gold rimmed chairs, fake fire places. Hotel is incomplete. A few minor things would help..... no bedside lamps, room fridges turned off, heating far too high. Incomplete pool. Incomplete bathrooms - huge space for bath, but missing! No USB charging ports which seems strange for a brand new hotel. Downstairs bar selling out of date beer. Tried to buy a bottle of sparkling wine, told sold out so bought the Moët at an outrageous price. Then after purchasing a second bottle that was served hot & as a result sprayed everywhere on opening, we asked for a a compensation. They offered us a bottle of wine ( after I asked for it) but one of the waiters bought over the bottle of bubbles that they were out of stock of.... then upon instruction whisked it away! So, basically we were taken for a ride. They sold our group out of date beer, lied about stock availability (charging $1400 a bottle of Moët!) & then ran out of beer! Like an episode of faulty towers. I cannot imagine why anyone would stay here, as we say in Australia " mutton dressed as lamb". Ps. Only stayed here as booked with a nexus tour - they obviously got a bargain orice!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Days Hotel Suzhou; City: Suzhou Jiangsu; Review: Nice neat & clean rooms. Spacious. Comfortable beds. Provide all ammenities - toiletries etc. Great location next to a huge bustling shopping centre. KFC, Pizza Hut, huge supermarket downstairs. @ floors of restaurants in the shopping centre too, so lots of variety for meals.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Griya Santrian; City: Sanur Denpasar Bali; Review: Perfect Bali hotel. Beautiful grounds. Gorgeous staff. Nice rooms. Stayed in a deluxe room overlooking front pool. 3 pools in total. Need to get pool chairs reasonably early if not keen on full sun. Lots of European guests who can be somewhat “loud” at early hours of the morning & late at night. Toiletries disappointing. No conditioner. No face washers or hand towels. Comfortable beds. Breakfast ok, nothing fancy. The star of the show is the location. Best in Sanur by far. Great restaurants out each side, beach & street. Will stay again .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bandha Hotel Suites; City: Legian Kuta District Bali; Review: Just returned from a fantastic stay at the Bandha. Really could not fault the place. Our suite was just perfect. They have thought of everything. An abundance of toiletries, plenty of towels etc, even a mobile phone for your use during your stay with free wifi & international calls. Staff were absolutely lovely, so happy & friendly. Pool staff superb, wont even let you lay out your own towel. Buy one get one free cocktails were delicious. Breakfast was great. Beds comfy & air conditioning great. Plenty of seating by the pool. We will definitely return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Padma Resort Legian; City: Legian Kuta District Bali; Review: Recently stayed at the Padma. Initially we were a bit taken aback as there were people & bags everywhere. Obviously check in out time. Our room was ready early which was nice, however after staying at the Bandha prior, I was a little disappointed with our room. I did book the base room ( but at well over $300 a night I was expecting a huge wow factor). Unfortunately our room overlooked the end of the resort, an empty lot.... the room was nice, with a free standing bath etc, just did not look fantastic. Chair was a bit grotty etc. if we had stayed here before the Bandha, my thoughts may have been different. Aircon worked well, beds comfy, if a little firm. Unlimited water is a nice touch. Definitely a family resort ( for very wealthy families obviously, lol). Kids everywhere. Tough to find a pool chair if you are not there super early. Adults only pool was good, & they have a very limited buy one get one free happy few hours. Grounds beautiful. Breakfast was a well oiled machine, complete with walkie talkies for the staff to allocate tables. Large & tasty selections. Great hotel if you have children to keep entertained. I think as a couple, there are probably better options, at more reasonable price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rydges Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Booked an unplanned trip to Melbourne for NYE direct through the hotel. Had base room, that was quite small, tiny bathroom, but more than adequate for two people. Parking handy underneath for $29 a day, unlimited entry in & out if you wish. Perfect location if attending the theatre & if you love China town (which we do!). Hotel seems to be at near capacity, lots of people coming & going. Enjoyed a happy drink in the bar which was nice - $6 for wine, bubbles. We didn't purchase breakfast, as there are so many options around. Only real improvement I would suggest ( as the accomodation was cheap enough anyway - even at NYE pricing) is that carpark validation could be done at checkin, rather than checkout, as then we could have made use of the express checkout option rater than joining the huge cue at 11am checkout. Overall, a pleasant stay, great location, would definitely return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The George Kerferd; City: Beechworth Victoria; Review: Great, huge grounds. Hotel rooms more than adequate. Rooms were cool, but split system was reasonably quick to warm up. Would be lovely in summer/spring. Great looking outside area with pool. Breakfast was very simple - toast or cereal, coffee can be purchased. Overall a comfortable stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Anne of Green Gables; Author: Visit Amazon's L M Montgomery Page; Review: I am thoroughly enjoying reading the Anne series. There is audible with it, but I haven't used that part. Price was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Further Chronicles of Avonlea - Kindle edition; Author: L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery; Review: I am thoroughly enjoying reading the Anne series. There is audible with it, but I haven't used that part. Price was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anne Of Green Gables; Author: L.M.; Mary W. Cushing & D.C. Williams Montgomery; Review: I am thoroughly enjoying reading the Anne series. There is audible with it, but I haven't used that part. Price was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patchwork Dreams (The Amish of Seymour); Author: Laura Hilton; Review: I enjoyed the book and the story. Hoping to read more. It got a bit repetitive in the middle but overall a good read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Moonlight Palace; Author: Visit Amazon's Liz Rosenberg Page; Review: Good read. I enjoyed the history and the storyline meshed well. I recommend this author. The book stayed with me; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Belle Mer Beachfront Apartments; City: Mount Maunganui Tauranga Bay of Plenty Region North Is; Review: This place reminded me of ritzy resort beach areas in the U.S.A., without the hype or craziness. Perhaps it's because we were there in winter (which was still lovely albeit a bit windy), or perhaps the nature of the place lends itself to a relaxed yet upscale stay. I loved that we could walk anywhere...to shops, to restaurants, to "the Mount." The beach right across the street was magnificent with a span of sand and ocean and rocks as far as we could see. The two bedroom second floor unit we had was nicely decorated, comfortable and spacious for our family of three adults and two children. The kitchen was well equipped and everything was very clean. I liked the small-friendly feel of the place and the owners who were so kind to us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bolton Hotel Wellington; City: Wellington Greater Wellington North Island; Review: I loved this small boutique hotel just on the edge of many street corners. The ambiance of warm colors and understated sophistication were welcoming and unpretentious. Just across the street is a classic (just like out of a Hollywood movie) multi-level old graveyard complete with twisting pathways and huge trees. The find was a treasure on our first foggy morning after a restful sleep. I liked the feeling of being in a cozy corner surrounding by the past and the present; the city's government buildings are close by as well. Great coffee served by friendly staff right by the main entrance. Although we didn't eat there, the restaurant seemed charming with a modern edge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Parkwood at Marble Arch; City: London England; Review: I did quite a bit of research to find a hotel that was reasonable in price for four of us and located close to transportation plus easy in/out access from Heathrow. Parkwood was it. I still feel the value was good and the location was great. I would've liked a little more friendliness from the staff. Some were very nice, others a bit bothered by questions. The rooms are tiny, but so are any others in the price range. We slept well and had an adequate breakfast each day; perhaps that's the best measure of what we hoped for. I'd recommend this for folks looking for value and location.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hamilton Hotel Washington DC; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: I loved being able to get around so easily; I walked everywhere. The lobby is small, the starbucks can get crowded but the restaurant didn't seem to bust from the seams in the 3 days I spent here. If you're looking for cozy nooks or generous common areas, this isn't going to be a great choice. I was after location, convenience and a fair price which the Hamilton supplied. The room felt narrow, as did the hallways and the lobby, but if you're just there to get good rest, it's more than fine. The Metro station is very close by also.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Marker San Francisco A Joie de Vivre Hotel; City: San Francisco California; Review: I wanted a hotel that wasn't too big and cold or too small and claustraphobic. This was perfect. I loved the common areas of this hotel...they just beg you to sit and read or to people watch the comings and goings on Geary Street. There are two cozy seating areas nestled into nooks and corners in rooms with high ceilings anchored by a huge fireplace. Staff was always helpful and friendly. The free hot chocolate (with real whipped cream!) and the free wine reception was a treat everyday. The Grand Cafe is full of ambiance and a great place to eat solo without feeling awkward. My room was comfortable, a little on the small side, but not bad. Don't expect great city views, the hotel isn't very high...but I liked that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Abrego; City: Monterey Monterey County California; Review: We loved the spacious rooms with super comfy beds and the great value. It was easy to get anywhere in town and Fishermans' Wharf is walking distance away. Great little restaurants are close by too. The breakfast was tasty and fresh each morning...the times are convenient too. With Teens, breakfast can be kind of late. We will be back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites On The River; City: Glenwood Springs Colorado; Review: Nothing exciting but clean, big rooms and good location by the river with easy highway access. Great value.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bunratty Haven Bed and Breakfast; City: Bunratty County Clare; Review: I loved the fact that this B&B was so close to Bunratty castle and the highway, yet quiet and beautifully situated with views of the green meadow. Lorraine and Noel (sp?) built a very lovely, new B&B addition to their lovely home where you get a sense of privacy and comfort yet are only a bellring away from more help. We loved our stay with them. This is the best combination of convenience, cleanliness and value mixed with warm hospitality and a chance to mingle with a lovely young Irish family. Ask about the small country road to head down to the Castle (it's a wonderful but very short secret drive) and only takes about 5 minutes to get there versus about 7 minutes on the highway and one exit. I guess I was expecting a more "touristy" aka Overly priced/un-authentic area and was very pleasantly surprised by Bunratty and the surrounds.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tir Na Nog Bed Breakfast; City: Cashel County Tipperary; Review: The setting is lovely (and quiet), the rooms are nice, the access to Cashel within a few minutes but best of all is the hospitality. As Tommy says, "you won't leave hungry", both he and Joan are eager to please. We had nice conversations with Tommy and Joan - I loved that I felt at ease to go into the kitchen while they were working to continue what we were talking about. Feels like visiting family at this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ariel House; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: We picked this place because of previous reviews and were not disappointed. Lovely place, beautiful street - and as promised for us jet-lagged sleepers-it was quiet. Rooms are small as you'd expect in an urban hotel. We didn't use mass transit to get into town but saw the convenient bus stop and cab fare wouldn't be too bad as it's pretty close. The breakfast room is nice and comfy as is the lounge. Staff was helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport; City: Frankfurt Hesse; Review: I normally cringe at the thought of an airport hotel but had no choice this time. I was most pleasantly surprised at this modern, clean, fresh and friendly hotel. I loved the environment, it felt a bit futuristic, but in a comforting way. The staff at the desk and in the restaurant were all very friendly and helpful. I was there for one night during the Hurricane Sandy travel crisis with many passengers stranded and not able to get back to the USA. Seemed like all agreed that if you had to be stranded, this was not a bad spot to stuck in. I wouldn't have minded staying a few more nights to be honest. Great bathrooms - very comfortable bed - intuitive TV and very quiet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waters Edge Hotel; City: Tiburon Marin County California; Review: After a lovely evening sitting around the firepit overlooking the bay with the lights from San Francisco sparkling across the water, I and my new friends agreed we each needed to pinch overselves. Not only about our accidental ways of finding this lovely little hotel, but because the service was fabulous. Michael provided our spontaneous little group with more wine and cheese and even some gourmet chocolate. We all agreed; this combination of view, service, setting and down right comfort doesn't come along often. I selfishly wish for others to stay away so I can reclaim this experience next time. Fabulous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inn on the Alameda; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: I had a girls get-a-way at this hotel for Labor Day weekend. Everything was walking distance away, including Canyon Rd and the Plaza. Loved not having to drive anywhere! The place is charming with its little outdoor courtyard extension of the dining area. Great spot to sit and enjoy your coffee or end of day cocktail.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Master of all Desires; Author: Visit Amazon's Judith Merkle Riley Page; Review: At first glance I thought a story involving Nostradamus, Catherine de Medici as well as a host of royal subjects and sorcerers would be enticing. Although this book is written in Ms. Riley's unique style of humor and cynicism, I kept waiting for something to happen. "The Oracle Glass" was far more captivating; it's Ms. Riley's best, in my opinion. "Vision of Light" is also a good read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Escape Artist; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Chamberlain Page; Review: Ms. Chamberlain writes a beautifully, poignant story of one woman's journey to overcome adversity. One cannot help but feel compassion and support for the main character, Susanna as she's always looking over her shoulder wondering if and when law enforcement will find her; as well as her inner, personal struggle in becoming a strong, self-reliant, woman, especially at the climatic end of the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don't Talk to Strangers: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Bethany Campbell Page; Review: Excellent psychological thriller about a serial killer who stalks women on the Internet. Bethany Campbell does an excellent job of story telling and character portrayal of some of the "lonely hearts" who use the Internet chat rooms to seek less-than fulfilling sexual and personal relationships.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Divine Guidance: How to Have a Dialogue with God and Your Guardian Angels; Author: Visit Amazon's Doreen Virtue Page; Review: This book is an answer to my prayers. Written in simple, lay-people's terms, Doreen Virtue writes about the unlimited inspiration and transcendence we have within us all. If anyone tells you that someone outside of yourself has all the answers and/or solutions to your problems, this book will discredit that belief. If you have doubts and fears about your own intuition and conscience, this book will dispel that as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Dance with Kings: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosalind Laker Page; Review: With the three reigns of Louis' XIV, XV & XVI as the backdrop, Ms. Laker tells a wonderful epic of four women, of the same lineage, who overcome all the adversities that many women experienced during this time period -- love, heartbreak, marital abuse, political strife, poverty... overcome by courage, self-respect and dignity. Ms. Laker creates superb imagery and historical accuracy of 17th & 18th century France, right down to the architectural details of the Palace of Versailles, as well as the political & social goings-on of these respective periods. If the historical accuracy of this book doesn't capture your attention, the romantic storyline certainly will.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Conquest; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Chadwick Page; Review: Ms. Chadwick writes a beautiful, romantic story with the Anglo-Saxon-Norman era as the backdrop. She has done an excellent job of historical research... from the vivid, graphic battle scenes at Hastings to the societal culture of the period. The love stories of Ailith & Rolf, and Julitta & Benedict would stand alone regardless of the time period. However, the setting of 11th century Britain makes these & all the characters that much more intriguing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Other Eden; Author: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Harris Page; Review: From the first words on page one, this book had me hooked to the very last page. Superbly written from the horrific, graphic details of a young girl's painful and humilitating ordeal to the beautiful, natural landscape of the land in which this story takes place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rules (TM): Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherrie Schneider Page; Review: I've seen Ms. Fein & Ms. Schneider on the talk shows and never have I seen two women more full of themselves. These women forgot one very important rule... DO NOT PLAY GAMES. Men despise games. Yet this whole book is a 'how to play games' in order to get a man. Men want one simple thing... to be loved and accepted for who they are. You don't need 'rules' to tell you what is just common sense. Women... you do not "need" this book! The sad fact is that many women feel they have to have a man to make them happy and fulfilled. No one can make you happy but YOU. If you have self-confidence and inner peace within yourself you don't 'need' a man to give you these qualities.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Banners of Silk; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosalind Laker Page; Review: Few books evoke human emotion with visual impact. Ms. Laker does just that in this beautifully crafted novel. She is an excellent story teller and has a wonderful way of getting inside the human heart and soul through her characters. I have also read "The Silver Touch", another excellent book of character and human emotion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Summer Island; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: Having read and thoroughly enjoyed "On Mystic Lake" & "Angel Falls", both of which I would rate with 5 stars, I had high expectations of "Summer Island". Instead, I found this book to be rather schmaltzy with a predictable ending. Mother and Daughter are estranged for several years. Mother is a high-profile radio personality. Daughter is down in her luck. Mother gets injured in a car accident soon after her career goes down the tubes. Mother and Daughter spend a week together at the family's summer home breaking the ice and revealing their true colors and feelings to one another. In the mean time, Daughter's first love is nearby at his summer home spending the last few days with his dying brother. The outcome of Daughter's & estranged boyfriend's relationship is predictable, too. I gave this book 2 stars because of the heartfelt storyline between the two brothers. But overall, I felt the characters were right out of Soap Opera Digest.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lady of Hay; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Erskine Page; Review: If you love historical and contemporary fiction as I do, this is the book for you. This particular novel is two stories in one. One, is the story of Lady Mathilda of 12th century Wales. While the other story, parallel to that of Mathilda is about Jo Clifford, reporter. Note the definitive word: "parallel"; because Jo and Mathilda are one and the same person in different incarnations, along with the people with whom they interact in their respective lifetimes. This book has all the elements of a good story... beautiful visuals of the 12 century Welsh landscape and castles, not to mention murder, suspense, mystery and romance. Another page-turner to be sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plain Truth; Author: Visit Amazon's Jodi Picoult Page; Review: Having read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Jodi Picoult's books, she is one of those writers who, to choose one book over another as my favorite is like choosing a favorite among one's children. But if I had to choose, "Plain Truth" would probably be at the top of my list. How likely is it for a 16-year old Amish girl to have a baby out of wedlock, let alone be charged for murdering that baby at childbirth? Ms. Picoult uses a beautiful, and I might add, well-researched backdrop of the Amish people -- their traditions, their private feelings and emotions, as well as secrets and personal shame to tell a most intriguing story that hooks you from the first page to the very last paragraph. You'll definitely need some uninterrupted time to read this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Bend in the Road; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sparks Page; Review: I've read every one of Nicholas Sparks' books, and each one gets better and better. In a way they build on one another as if to reflect aspects of his own life. Nicholas Sparks knows women... their feelings, their thoughts and their pain. He also knows the dynamics of relationships between men and women. His characters (in this case, Miles and Sarah) emulate the feelings we've all had in similar situations. I could also write this same review about "The Rescue."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Everlasting Covenant; Author: Visit Amazon's Robyn Carr Page; Review: If you like a good historical romance at the time of 15th century chivalry, this book is for you. This book has everything in a good romance novel... passion, longing, desire, villans, heroes, life-long vendettas, revenge. Even though the ending was somewhat predictable, it still held my interest and curiousity from the very first page.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Handful of Heaven; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: After reading "On Mystic Lake" and "Angel Falls" I became an instant fan of Ms. Hannah's books, thus prompting me to read her earlier works, of which "Handful of Heaven" is her first. This is a classic example of the old cliche, "never judge a book by it's cover". When I see a book cover showing a semi-clad man and woman in a moment of passion, it gives the implication of a hot, passionate romance from beginning to end. This is indeed a story of romance and passion, but it is also the story of two lonely people, Stone Man and Devon, who have suppressed their respective painful pasts, while co-existing in the adverse elements of a brutal winter in the Yukon, in the late 19th century. As the story evolves we come to know these two people's inner thoughts and desires through how they relate to one another. This a book to be read by the fireside or snuggled in a warm blanket, lest you get chills (literally) while reading Ms. Hannah's vivid descriptions of the Yukon wilderness in winter.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Wishes; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Delinsky Page; Review: Having read nearly all of Barbara Delinsky's books and enjoying them all, if I had to choose one that has touched me the most, it would have to be "Three Wishes". As their relationship grows, Tom and Bree reveal their true, inner most thoughts, feelings and fears to one another. Ultimately, their relationship presents the greatest challenge and ultimate sacrifice of unconditional love. Have tissues in hand while reading this wonderfully, touching story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: More Than Friends; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Delinsky Page; Review: This is a story about trust, and about how different people react to feeling that their trust has been violated. Two families' lives are changed when a moment of spontaneous passion occurs between two individuals of each respective family. Told from the point of view of all the major characters, including the children, every emotion from guilt, anger, sorrow, and love surfaces as a result. The story evolves with an outcome that reveals how each person comes to terms with what has occurred. Among Delinsky's best.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Passions of Chelsea Kane; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Delinsky Page; Review: The title is a bit misleading in that it is not about sexual/sensual passions per se (although that plays a part in the story). It is more to do with Chelsea's life's passions, mainly her obsession in finding her birth parents. While on her search she encounters many adversities, including being shunned by a reserved New England community that does not condone her free-spirited lifestyle, including a pregnancy without a father in the picture, a love affair with one of the town's available and handsome men, and a business partnership in the town quarry. As the story unfolds, we learn that Norwich Notch has some hidden secrets and "skeletons" of their own that they don't want uncovered and disclosed, which include illegitimacy and domestic abuse. In other words, they want to give the appearance that they are a quaint, New England community... "appearance" being the definitive word. Thus, it is easier for them to hold Chelsea Kane in judgment rather than admit their own shortcomings. I gave the book 4 stars because I thought it was a bit too long. I would have left out the lengthy descriptions of the quarry business. Aside from that, it's one of those books that will grab your attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked right up to the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shadow Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Chamberlain Page; Review: This is a story of two women, Joelle and Carlynn, whose lives run parallel, yet are more intertwined than meets the eye. There are two separate stories. One traces Carlynn's life beginning in 1937 at the age of 7; the other begins with Joelle's birth in 1967. The two stories merge into one where deep rooted feelings and secrets are revealed between the two women and that of their loved ones. Diane Chamberlain is best known for underlying themes where things are not always what they seem. "Cypress Point" will not disappoint the reader in line with that theme.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Safe Harbor; Author: Visit Amazon's Eugene Izzi Page; Review: Having read all of Luanne Rice's books, Safe Harbor was not her best effort, in my opinion. There were times I found the storyline rather contrite, though it had some poignant, heartfelt moments. Plus the storyline overall had too many similarities to Firefly Beach, from which Safe Harbor was essentially a spin-off. If you want true vintage Luanne Rice, read "Cloud Nine" and "Follow the Stars Home."; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Time to Kill Paper If Available; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Rarely am I hooked with a gut-wrenching reaction upon reading the first page, let alone the first paragraph, as I was with this book. A 10-year old girl's vicious, heinous assault evokes a vigilante response from her father. Thus begins the trial both in and out of the court room. Is the murder of the two assailants of this little girl an act of temporary insanity or justifiable homicide? Therein lies the question that becomes unraveled in this riviting story. Set in Mississippi, the characters include a pompous district attorney who uses this case for his own egotistical and political gain; a sympathetic defense attorney with integrity who puts his client first before his legal fees; a law clerk/student with liberal ideas and notions, wit and smart legal savy; the Ku Klux Klan, members of the black community from around the state, the media and the National Guard. One would think this is a setting out of the civil rights movement of the 60's, with scenes of demonstrations, rioting and killing of innocent people. This story in fact takes place in 1989 (the year the book was published). My only critique is that the book was a bit lengthy at times. But overall, it's worth the read from beginning to end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Street Lawyer; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: This book would have had potential had it not gotten too politically "preachy". The book opens with a homeless man, who goes by the name of "Mister", who barges into a prestigious Washington D.C.law firm. There, he holds members of the firm hostage at gun point for several hours, only to end in his own tragic death via the law enforcement. From that point on, the story drags on, documenting the plight of the homeless. Not until half-way into the book do we get even get a glimpse of "Mister"'s character and why he chose to terrorize this particular law firm. A chapter or two about the plight of the homeless and poverty in America would have sufficed, followed by another chapter or two as to why the main character, Michael Brock chose to leave all the amenities of a prestigious law firm to help those who were less fortunate (hence, the name "The Street Lawyer"). John Grisham is one of the best authors of his genre. Don't judge him by this book. For vintage Grisham read "A Time to Kill", "The Firm", and "The Pelican Brief."; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kiss The Girls; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Ever read a book that was compelling and gruesome, and you still couldn't put it down? "Kiss the Girls" is one such book. Having read and enjoyed "Along Came a Spider", I felt compelled to read this second book in the Alex Cross series. Had I known of the graphic and gorey details of this book I probably would not have picked it up to begin with. However, I was already hooked after the first page, and every page thereafter. If you are a fan of James Patterson, and can get beyond the gruesome scenes of women being brutally raped and murdered, then you, too, will probably find yourself turning the pages of this book to the very end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Girls; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Ever read a book that was compelling and gruesome, and you still couldn't put it down? "Kiss the Girls" is one such book. Having read and enjoyed "Along Came a Spider", I felt compelled to read this second book in the Alex Cross series. Had I known of the graphic and gorey details of this book I probably would not have picked it up to begin with. However, I was already hooked after the first page, and every page thereafter. If you are a fan of James Patterson, and can get beyond the gruesome scenes of women being brutally raped and murdered, then you, too, will probably find yourself turning the pages of this book to the very end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courting Trouble; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Scottoline Page; Review: When I read the inside cover synopsis of this book, I was anticipating a good weekend read... until I got past the first three chapters. "Mediocre" seems to be the definitive word among several of the reviewers. Because from then on, what I thought had potential to be a good page-turning thriller, became just that. While out of town on a holiday weekend get-away, Anne Murphy, an associate in an all-female law firm, comes upon her local newspaper where, upon reading the headlines, learns of her own murder. Obviously, the victim is one of mistaken identity. The rest of the story follows Anne, along with her law firm associates, solving the mystery of her murder. I enjoy reading books featuring strong, female characters overcoming adversities. But in this case, I think perhaps Ms. Scottoline was trying too hard to over emphasize Anne's strength of character. For example, at first, Anne reacts with horror and disbelief -- a normal reaction for anyone in her situation. However, as the story unfolds, she seems to take the whole incident in stride, at times even joking about it. Another thing that makes this story rather contrite and unrealistic is the timeline in which the events unfold. A few months ago, the cast of the popular TV series "CSI" was on Larry King's show, talking about the show's popularity and success, emphasizing it's authenticity. One of the technical advisors to the show stated that everything about "CSI" is true to life... except that crimes such as those depicted on the show are not solved in an hour, referring to the show being an hour long. Well, crimes such as the one depicted in "Courting Trouble" are not solved in three days, let alone with such nonchalance. But then again, this is, after all, only fiction.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Motion to Suppress: A Novel (Nina Reilly); Author: Visit Amazon's Perri O'Shaughnessy Page; Review: Having just read "Motion to Suppress", the first in a series of legal thrillers featuring main character Nina Reilly, I've got the other succeeding books already on my reading list. What I like about this book, aside from it's fast-pace and intriguing plot, is that Nina is depicted as an independent woman with smart business savy, yet one with shortcomings and insecurities. In other words, she's human. Having just left her husband and a prestigious corporate law firm in San Francisco, Nina relocates to Lake Tahoe where she sets up a private practice. There, she takes her first criminal case, Misty Patterson, accused of murdering her abusive husband. In the meantime, Nina has her own personal issues to resolve, including a pending divorce, and warding off intimidation from a another defense attorney, drivin by male ego, who's use to having the run of the town's clientele. Other bright and colorful characters include Nina's private investigator friend who has hinted at being more than just colleagues, a sassy and witty secretary who has friends and relatives in high places as well as referrals, and a supportive family with whom she takes temporary residence. If "Motion to Suppress" is an indication of what's to come, I look forward to more of Perri O'Shaughnessy's books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J.K. Rowling Page; Review: Recommended by several adult friends, I finally read "The Sorcerer's Stone", the first of the "Harry Potter" series. I can see why this, and the succeeding three books in the series have remained on the bestseller lists. J.K. Rowling was indeed gifted with a stellar and creative charm and imagination. Harry, Ron and Hermione share a bond likened to that of Oz's beloved Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman and Cowardly Lion. And words like "Hogworts", "muggles", and "quidditch" are considered a part of the English language (not to mention the many languages in which the book has been translated and read all over the world). Perhaps, when originally conceived, Ms. Rowling had children in mind when she wrote "The Sorcerer's Stone", followed by the subsequent books in the Harry Potter series. But adults will be equally intrigued and absorbed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tara Road; Author: Visit Amazon's Maeve Binchy Page; Review: This is a novel about family, friends and neighbors to include a connection between two women living separate lives an ocean apart. Ria is a young woman from Ireland whose first love, Danny is the man she eventually marries and with whom she raises two children. Years later, she faces the shocking realization that, what she thought was the "perfect" marriage and family, comes to a sudden end by her husband's abrupt departure. In the mean time, Marilyn, who resides in Connecticut, is living day to day doing her best to endure a painful recovery of her own personal loss. One day Marilyn phones Ria's residence and a chance dialogue between them results in arranging for the two women to switch residences for a summer. In doing so, certain events and truths are revealed to one another about the other's life; events and experiences that were the other to know the truth could cause great pain and heartache. They discover that things are not always as they seem, and have seemed. Danny is not the debonaire husband Ria idealized him to be. Rosemary gives the appearance of being the loyal friend and confidante; "appearance" being the definitive word. Gertie is so deep in her denial that her pretending to be happy becomes her saving grace. Ms. Binchey a superb story teller. Her style is that of interwoven dialogue and emotional action/reaction. I found myself completely absorbed in each of these people's lives until the very last page.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goodbye Gutenberg: How a Bronx Teacher Defied 500 Years of Tradition and Launched an Astonishing Renaissance (Designer Writers); Author: Valerie Kirschenbaum; Review: This stunning book combines all the elements of art, graphics, literature and history. Written by a school teacher, children and adults would enjoy this beautifully crafted book. "Goodbye Gutenberg" would make a perfect gift for the holidays or any occasion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Chamberlain Page; Review: I have read all of Ms. Chamberlain's books and "The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes" is one of her best. The story had me hooked from the first page and kept me enthralled to the very last word. The story is told from the point of view of a frightened, naive sixteen-year old girl who is transformed, literally overnight, into a single mother with adult responsibilities. She spends the better part of thirty years looking over her shoulder and hiding a secret that will affect everyone with whom she comes in contact, especially her beloved daughter. If you are fan of Diane Chamberlain this book is a must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Levi's Men's 501 Original-Fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: I do not like the way the buttons fasten versus using a zipper. Guess I prefer the 505's but my wife likes the way these look.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's Big and Tall 501 Original Fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: I do not like the way the buttons fasten versus using a zipper. Guess I prefer the 505's but my wife likes the way these look.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 501 Original-Fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: I do not like the way the buttons fasten versus using a zipper. Guess I prefer the 505's but my wife likes the way these look.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 501 Original-Fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: I do not like the way the buttons fasten versus using a zipper. Guess I prefer the 505's but my wife likes the way these look.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 501 Original-Fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: I do not like the way the buttons fasten versus using a zipper. Guess I prefer the 505's but my wife likes the way these look.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mimic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chosen One: Legend of the Raven (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Eurotrip (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Peter Pan (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Conspiracy Theory (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Extreme Edition (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blood of Heroes (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghosts of Mars (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost and the Darkness (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deep Blue Sea (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Final Destination (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Torque (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Taking Lives (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Next Door (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1920); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: I Spy (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Jury (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Predator: Collector's Edition (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Platoon (1986); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Payback (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alien vs. Predator (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Score (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Alamo (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Walking Tall (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ladykillers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Punisher (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Dead (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joe Dirt (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Children of Dune (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Duplex (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Chronicles of Riddick (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy Quest (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Envy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Poison Ivy: The New Seduction (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hero (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: King Arthur (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paparazzi (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friday Night Lights (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Grudge (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Osmosis Jones (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Forgotten (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Septem8er Tapes (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insomnia (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Advocate (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Half Baked (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saw (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Redemption (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: MLB umpire Eric Cooper dead at 52; Abstract: Cooper served as an MLB umpire for 21 years.; Category: sports
Title: Week 7 winners, losers: Aaron Rodgers now in MVP race; Mitchell Trubisky looks lost; Abstract: Aaron Rodgers' big game vaults him into the MVP race. Meanwhile in Chicago, it might be time for the Bears to reconsider Mitchell Trubisky's future.; Category: sports
Title: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are bringing Archie on his first trip to the US over Thanksgiving; Abstract: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take a six-week sabbatical with their son amidst an onslaught of media attention.; Category: lifestyle
Title: After throwing a punch, Dabo Swinney made CB Andrew Booth ride the manager bus back to Clemson; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Prince Harry acknowledges tensions with William in ITV interview; Abstract: Britain's Prince Harry has acknowledged tensions with his older brother Prince William for the first time, saying they are on "different paths."; Category: lifestyle
Title: Four flight attendants were arrested in Miami's airport after bringing in thousands in cash, police say; Abstract: Four American Airlines flight attendants were arrested at the Miami International Airport and charged with money laundering after bringing large amounts of cash into the country, police said.; Category: news
Title: Watch Jessica Biel Admit She Was NOT a 'Huge' Fan of *NSYNC In HILARIOUS Old Interview; Abstract: Jessica was hilariously confronted by Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday's 'Tonight Show,' with a clip where she admits she was not a 'huge' fan o; Category: video
Title: Notorious Low Bridge Known For Decapitating Box Trucks Getting Raised; Abstract: The "11-foot-8" bridge will soon be taller, but not by much.; Category: autos
Title: All-Female Moderator Group Announced for Next Democratic Debate, Hosted By NBC News and the Washington Post; Abstract: The moderators have been announced for the next Democratic Presidential Debate, and the roster is comprised entirely of women. The Nov. 20 debate, co-hosted by NBC News and the Washington Post, will feature a quartet of female moderators. Venerable NBC stalwart Andrea Mitchell leads the way, with the Washington Post's Ashley Parker, NBC White House […]; Category: news
Title: Bed, Bath and Beyond Pulls 'Blackface Pumpkins From the Shelves; Abstract: The pumpkins were removed from stores after an upstate New York community filed complaints.; Category: lifestyle
Title: McDonald's apologizes for 'Sundae Bloody Sundae' Halloween promotion; Abstract: McDonald's has canceled a promotion for a "Sundae Bloody Sundae" ice cream that was available in Portugal for Halloween.; Category: finance
Title: LASIK eye surgery should be taken off market, ex-FDA adviser says; Abstract: An estimated 20 million Americans have undergone the procedure to correct nearsightedness and improve distance vision; Category: health | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Galaxy S7 Edge Screen Protector [Full Coverage],Yootech [2-Pack] [Anti-Bubble] [HD; Brand: yootech; Review: Difficult to put on. Fuzz sticks to it quite quickly. Had to get rid of one and the other it on my phone but will be removing it soon.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy S5 Case, OBLIQ [Skyline Pro][Blue] + Screen Shield; Brand: Obliq; Review: I purchased this item on the way home from the store with my new S5 and I'm so happy I did. The case held up 2 years. My phone was in perfect condition. My phone went through many falls and drops thanks to my toddler. It was tossed across the room throw onto pavement. What can I say. Kids let things slip right out of their hands. After 2 years I went to turn in my phone and the man at the store couldn't believe it was in such great condition and my case was still going strong. It had a couple of scratches from wear and tear and of course being in the hands of a toddler but was still in great condition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OtterBox Defender Series Case and Holster for Samsung Galaxy S4 - Carrier Packaging - Pink; Brand: OtterBox; Review: Great. Phone is still brand new after using this case.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500 Factory Unlocked Cellphone, International Version, 16GB, Black; Brand: Samsung; Review: The phone was purchased to send overseas and it works great. no issues. years later and its still going strong.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Original Genuine OEM Spare 2600 mAh Replacement Battery for Samsung Galaxy S4 - Non-Retail Packaging - Silver; Brand: Samsung; Review: Ok. It wouldn't hold a charge for more than a couple hours after the first week.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: OtterBox Defender Series Case for Samsung Galaxy S4 ACTIVE (Not Regular S4) - Retail Packaging - Black; Brand: OtterBox; Review: Great. Phone is still brand new after using this case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BLU Advance 4.0 Unlocked Cellphone, Black; Brand: BLU; Review: The phone was purchased to send overseas. It works great absolutely no issues. The user says she even gets cell coverage in areas that others with iphnoes and samsungs do not. Great for overseas; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S4 Active/S 4 M919 T-Mobile NEW OEM B600bu Battery - Non-Retail Packaging - Black/Silver (Discontinued by; Brand: Samsung; Review: Good replacement for the original battery. Held up for quite some time. It would have probably held up longer had the electricity overseas been more stable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BLU Star 4.5 Design Edition Global GSM - Unlocked (Blue); Brand: BLU; Review: The phone was purchased to send overseas. It works great absolutely no issues. The user says she even gets cell coverage in areas that others with iphnoes and samsungs do not. Great for overseas; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ELENKER Mini 2600mah External Battery Pack Compact; Brand: ELENKER; Review: Took forever to cahrge up my phone was good for an emergency situation; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy S4 Screen Protector - - High Definition (HD) Ultra Clear - Anti Glare and Anti-fingerprint Matte -; Brand: Mobling; Review: Quick and easy to apply. gets the job done; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Josi Minea Fabric Braided Nylon Ruggedized Micro USB Data Sync & Charging Cable for Android Tablets, Android Phones, Windows; Brand: Josi Minea; Review: meh. 3 of the cables didn't work the rest i had to mess with to get them to work. cheap you get what you pay for.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 2.0-Amp Micro-USB 3.0 Charger for Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 3 - White (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Samsung; Review: ok as a spare. didn't work as well as original but it got the job done.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 2800mAh OEM Battery for Galaxy S5, Black/Silver (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Samsung; Review: didnt hold charge as long as expected but it was ok for a spare / replacement battery; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PLAYMOBIL School Bus; Brand: PLAYMOBIL; Review: Excelente; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PLAYMOBIL® Private Jet; Brand: PLAYMOBIL; Review: Excelente; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEGO City Great Vehicles Van & Caravan 60117 Building Toy; Brand: LEGO; Review: Excelente; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PLAYMOBIL Green Recycling Truck; Brand: PLAYMOBIL; Review: Excelente; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price My First Thomas & Friends, Thomas Activity Train; Brand: Thomas & Friends; Review: Excelente; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Treasure Island; Author: Robert Louis Stevenson; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: It's a classic so I feel I should like it more than I did. Maybe I will read it again someday to see if perhaps I was not in the mood for adventure this week.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Autobiography; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, comics, crime, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: It was fascinating. Not as much as her novels are though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Persuasion; Author: Jane Austen; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book is on a "books to be read once in your life" or something like that, and it's true this book should be read. But only once.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Author: Robert Louis Stevenson; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Absolutely wonderful. Now this book I could read again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Suicide Club; Author: Robert Louis Stevenson; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: It was certainly interesting, in a very strange way.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rebecca; Author: Daphne du Maurier; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: I loved it and I want more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: And Then There Were None; Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Definitely a favorite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10); Author: Agatha Christie; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Wonderful, just wonderful book. It was so hard not to read the ending, I wanted to know "who did it!" long before those last few pages came along.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Island of Dr. Moreau; Author: H.G. Wells; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Fun! Fun! Fun!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives; Author: Ira Levin; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: So much fun!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mystery of the Yellow Room; Author: Gaston Leroux; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Loved it. Would read again any time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Snowbeast; Brand: Robert Logan; Review: A true classic of the Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Yeti genre, and held in high esteem by genre aficionados, Snowbeast stands head and shoulders above the pack. A wholly effective 1977 made for television offering, well scripted, acted, directed, et al.; Snowbeast harkens back to a time in which Bigfoot films were actually dignified efforts in film-making. While most of the scares are conceptual (an approach sadly discarded to the detriment of newer offerings, such as the terrible Yeti: Maneater Series, and the completely atrocious Snow Beast (2011)), and it's not entirely original in scope (It is in fact a near exact re-telling of Jaws (Widescreen Anniversary Collector's Edition) (1975), which makes for simple and effective storytelling, and is especially satisfying if, like myself, you'd have preferred if Jaws were a pernicious Yeti), the film is nevertheless a substantial and well balanced effort; expertly scripted by Joseph Stefano, whose screenwriting credits include no less than Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1960), and deftly directed by veteran television director Herb Wallerstein, whose vast resume includes directing episodes of Star Trek (the original series), The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, and Gunsmoke, amongst others. The acting as well is beyond reproach, which places Snowbeast at the top of the genre canon. Robert Logan, as Tony Rill, a veritable Hammer of Yeti's, is sublime. His cool demeanor, fitted ski suit, and Ted Bundy hairdo, bespeaking his proactive, "it must be destroyed," aggressive anti-Yeti campaigning. And Bo Svenson, excellent as Gar, the has-been ski champion-cum-pacifist turned conscientious Yeti slayer, has some classic cuckold moments as Tony casually seduces his very sexy and equally disillusioned wife Ellen (the petite, and yet fantastically busty, Yvette Mimieux). A quick aside: In regard to the creature itself, though I refer to it as a Yeti per it's being white furred, and while it is never positively identified in the film, but rather implied as being a malevolent "Bigfoot" that has wandered out of the wilderness and into the resort area, the creature is in fact more closely akin to that described by the "... weather beaten old mountain hunter, named Bauman." A creature which stalked him, and murdered his trapping partner, in the lonely mountain pass with the evil reputation. "... Something either half human or half devil, some great goblin-beast." As told first-hand to then president Theodore Roosevelt, and recounted in his 1892 classic, The Wilderness Hunter. The only real problem I have with the film, while minor in the extreme, is what I like to call the Snowbeast "Magic Logs" theory. This is in reference to the creature's attack on a motor home, wherein it rolls a huge pile of logs down an embankment crashing broadside into said motor home, knocking it over, but these "Magic Logs" (in full defiance of the laws of physics, and more so, film continuity) inexplicably manage to end up INSIDE the motor home, thereby trapping Sheriff Paraday (the uber-manly, Clint Walker), and literally securing his demise. All said: If you are a fan of any of the classic, non-CGI, Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Yeti genre films, then Snowbeast (1977), a true; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shogun; Brand: Richard Chamberlain; Review: Excellent adaptation of a slightly cheesy novel about an English sea captain who, with his crew in tow, washes up on the shores of Tokugawa era Japan. Richard Chamberlain plays the part of an indignant English captain surrounded by "savages" quite well, and the tempo carries throughout as you, along with the characters, become familiarized with an alien culture that was like none the western world had ever experienced. NBC exec's made the right call in forgoing subtitles so that you are forced to suffer Chamberlains fate alongside him. It really gives you a great sense of what it must have been like for the non fictional Captain William Adams, the first Englishman to arrive in Japan, and upon whom the story is loosely based. They also did a wonderful job aesthetically recreating the period that was 17th century Japan. The brilliant casting of Toshiro Mifune as the Shogun apparent really carries this into the realm of great television, and on the strength of Mifune alone this is well worth whatever effort you may put forth in seeing it. All in all, a great Samurai television series, smartly acted by all involved, and a must see for fans of Samurai culture!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Case of the Scorpion's Tail; Brand: George Hilton; Review: Five stars for the film itself which is an excellent and absorbing Giallo, and a wonderful example of the many engaging attributes of the genre put to fine use. As for the DVD itself - There a few problems with the English subtitling being either absent or inconsistent during a couple of scenes, but these are relatively minor and do not derail the film in any sense. That aside, NoShame ought be called NoRegrets, because they've put forth a solid and respectful effort in presenting a classic Giallo with all due accord. Kudos!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wild Man of the Navidad; Brand: Justin Meeks; Review: SPOILER ALERT - The Wild Man of the Navidad is about a mysterious creature who terrorizes a rural Texas river bottom belonging to a man who has opened that bottom for hunting in order to pay for his wife's medical treatment. The creature, a local legend, is shot and injured causing it to go on a rampage through the moonshine plagued town which eventually results in it's death, at which point the creature is revealed to be... a Wookilar: the man-pig monster last seen menacing Tim Conway & Don Knotts in 1981's The Private Eyes [Blu-ray]. The film as a whole is interesting, quirky and enjoyable, but ultimately disappointing in its attempt at a fusion of The Legend of Boggy Creek (contextual) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2-Disc Ultimate Edition) (aesthetic). The film itself comes across as a somewhat self-indulgent vanity project (the writer/director team also starring), though it does have several attributes; such as grotesquely engaging non-professional actors, and great locations, and is certainly worth seeing and owning if you are a fan of films like the aforementioned Boggy Creek, or Town That Dreaded Sundown [VHS], as it pretends to that genre in obvious homage to Charles B. Pierce. All said - I was initially very excited when I heard about Wild Man, but as an end result I'd liken the experience to riding a roller coaster, at a child's theme park: Teasingly precocious at turns but never actually meeting expectations.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snow Beast; Brand: John Schneider; Review: I'm going to keep this brief, because there is not much to say that my title doesn't. On first becoming aware of a new Snow Beast I was genuinely excited because I am a huge fan of the 1977 original (which by the way deserves a legitimate high-def transfer and release. The current DVD editions, Snowbeast, and Sasquatch Horror Collection, being just a step removed from VHS). I hold it in the highest regard, and consider it to be one of the very few legitimately well done Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Yeti horror films, and a staple of the genre. That said, Snow Beast (2011), which is not a remake, but instead a particularly drone re-imagining, was absolutely terrible. And decidedly not terrible in the way some bad films retain a sense of dignified charm. It appears a modicum of effort was put into this production. And that's being generous. The directing is terrible. The story, poorly scripted and uninteresting. The Snow Beast in question is a basic scary Yeti Halloween costume, and the special effects are among the worst I've ever seen. In fact Yeti: Maneater Series, another fairly terrible addition to the genre, is akin to a work of art in comparison. That should speak volumes to true Sasquatch film aficionados. The only even remotely salvageable aspects of this atrocity are John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard), who hams it up regardless of the fact that this is possibly the lowest point of his career. And Jason London (Dazed and Confused), who, though somewhat bloated and appearing significantly depressed, was OK nevertheless. If anything at all good comes of this, it will be that it leads to some real work for Schneider and London, both of whom are talented, and yet obviously struggling under the yoke of fleeting fame. In conclusion: The fact that (unlike the above mentioned Yeti which at least had substance enough to get picked up and broadcast as a Syfy Channel original movie) Snow Beast went straight to DVD, should be a big red flag. And that the distributor is Sun World Pictures, bigger red flag. All said, while young children might enjoy this film for it's amateurish "Goosebumps" production values, for genre fans like myself I'd recommend skipping this dud (at least until it's in the bargain bin).; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Black Sunday; Brand: ; Review: Not a review of Mario Bava's iconic film, which would merit a book, but rather a brief applause for Kino's upgrade: While not a frame by frame transfer, it's is nevertheless a very solid upgrade, and significantly better than any of it's DVD predecessors. It is the European version (containing all 3 minutes of footage removed for the U.S. release) w/ English dub (the actors spoke their lines in English during filming), and the Roberto Nicolosi score. Audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava : All the Colors of the Dark, is identical to the Anchor Bay release. I'm wonderfully pleased with this effort by Kino; and I can only hope they will see their way to giving Bava's other masterpieces, most specifically Blood and Black Lace, the same long overdue treatment and respect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daimajin - Triple Feature; Brand: Riki Hashimoto; Review: I'm not going to bother reviewing the films. If your reading this then you are either already familiar with this fantastic franchise, or you are just discovering it, in which case nothing I can say will do it justice in terms of relating it's sheer awesomeness. That said: Having owned the Daimajin trilogy in all it's various incarnations, this long overdue effort is without a doubt the best ever presentation of the these films for the home entertainment market. While not perfect, they are nevertheless literally world's away from the ADV / Rubbersuit DVD collection (which was the previous best). It's like comparing a donkey cart to a jet plane. The upgrade brings life to these films in such a way as you will feel you are seeing them for the first time, with a clarity and depth wholly lacking in all past releases. Presented in the original Japanese, with optional English audio tracks or subtitles, and nicely packaged; it's only downside is the sparsity of extras. Overall: Kudos to Mill Creek Entertainment! A job well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ripper Street - Series 1 anglais; Brand: ; Review: Biggest let-down of the year: Here you have a unique and interesting concept, loosely based on a fantastic book, THE MAN WHO HUNTED JACK THE RIPPER, which could have smartly formatted itself in historical minutia for a thinking audience, but instead sadly delivers a tepid serial version of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows [Blu-ray + Ultraviolet Digital copy]. The worst part is the obviously wasted talents involved; slick atmospheric cinematography, set dressings, costuming, acting, it's all here, and beyond reproach. Ultimately, a phenomenally wasted effort.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Shandon Bells; City: Cork County Cork; Review: Just returned from a visit after staying 3 dreadful nights in Room 1 on the ground floor. This has been one of my worst experiences at a B&B. While the room has clearly been redecorated recently and looked wonderful with a beautiful bathroom etc my visit was completely spoilt by the dreadful smell in the room - especially from the drains in the bathroom. I could not even open my window at night to get fresh air as (1) it was on the ground floor and it did not feel safe to leave the window open at night and (2) right outside the window the extractor fan made an awful loud racket. I tried closing the bathroom door to keep the smell in the bathroom but each time when I returned to my room the bathroom door had been left open by whoever had been in the room so the bedroom was stinking. I was in Cork for an intensive training course and was forced to stay away from the B& B as long as i could as the smell was so bad. Not much chance to rest each night. The brand new TV was disastrous: each time I went to watch it I had to call the lady to set the channels. Though very inconvenient it was ok as long as it was before 9pm: there was no one available after 9 pm and when I tried to phone the B&B the call went straight to machine!!!!! I spoke to the lady on my second day about the smell and her response was that the room had been done up recently. Clearly it had but the smell was disgraceful. I have to wonder how health & safety would respond to this complaint. What an embarrassment of a B&B. Absolute shame on this establishment not to take note of this issue. It was a disgrace. Parking was also a problem - a very narrow gateway and once in the driveway it is extremely difficult to manoever your car out of the driveway - you have to hope that no one else comes in after you! I was so relieved to leave.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Clifden Station House; City: Clifden County Galway Western Ireland; Review: Stayed here for two nights before Christmas and though there was a function on the Saturday we arrived the staff were so friendly and helpful about where we could eat - across the way!! Food was delicious and a great selection was available. Breakfast offered a great selection and the staff were especially helpful on our last morning facilitating late breakfast for my daughter who was unwell - which allowed me to have a lovely breakfast too. This was most appreciated. The room was spacious and quiet. Enjoyed a stroll around town - beautiful shops and very friendly staff too. Well worth another visit - looks like I'l have to visit again in summertime....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rose Hotel; City: Tralee County Kerry; Review: Had dinner here in the restaurant recently. Staff are so gracious, professional and friendly. Food presentation is lovely and the crabmeat starter excellent; Two of us had the Sole for main and it was really tasty; finished off with nougat parfait and it did not disappoint. Have eaten in the bar quite a bit but the restaurant was a great treat - quiet and elegant just what was needed for a special dinner; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ballymagarvey Village; City: Navan County Meath; Review: Enjoyed a wonderful experience here recently. From the moment we arrived we were warmly welcomed and this atmosphere continued right throughout the stay. Staff were so friendly and helpful. Nothing was too difficult. The rooms for the wedding ceremony & reception were beautifully decorated with lights and trees. The ensemble playing for the ceremony was cheerful and relaxing. The bedroom was lovely - warm and comfortable. There was plenty of space to walk around the gardens and meander amongst the guests. We were lucky with the weather for a March wedding and this made all the difference too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norman Villa; City: Galway County Galway Western Ireland; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Satan Burger; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: I love bizarro books, and somehow I have not read a Mellick III book until now. Mellick's first of many books is fantastic. Every moment of absurdity is matched by brilliance. If you dig bizarro, this is a must.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love in the Time of Dinosaurs; Author: Visit Amazon's Kirsten Alene Page; Review: Gun-yielding Dinosaurs? Check. Warrior monks? Check. Romance? Check. Bizarro? CHECK. If you are looking for these things but did not know it until you stumbled upon Kirsten Alene's Love in the Time of Dinosaurs, then do yourself a favor and read the damn book. If you aren't looking for these things in a book, then you are an idiot. This book is a blend of Romeo and Juliet meets Jurassic Park, except it is a hundred times better than both of them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Cat Brain Land; Author: Visit Amazon's Cameron Pierce Page; Review: While I do not think Pierce's first collection of short stories is as good as his newer one (Die You Doughnut Bastards), it is definitely a wonderful and enjoyable read. My favorite stories were "Lost in Cat Brain Land," about a man who gets sucked into his cat and is trapped in a desert world, and "Drain Angel," about an earwig that crawls out of the shower drain and quickly grows into a monstrous angel. Many of these stories deal with failing relationships and all of them are positively bizarro.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Satan Burger (15th Anniversary Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: I love bizarro books, and somehow I have not read a Mellick III book until now. Mellick's first of many books is fantastic. Every moment of absurdity is matched by brilliance. If you dig bizarro, this is a must.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Haunted Vagina; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: This book is great fun! You should read it if you like any of the following: -Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -Bizarro -Vaginas -Haunted Houses -Really cool shit -Laughing If you like at least one of the above mentioned things, then this book is for you. If you do not like any of them, what the hell do you like? (seriously, i'd love to know) Oh yeah, and there is like social commentary and stuff in here if you are like a more literary type, ya feel?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Church of TV as God; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Vlasaty Page; Review: The Church of TV as God is equal parts hilarious and violent/dark. Daniel's first book is a brilliant debut. If you like TV and talking dogs, then this is the book for you. How about social commentaries? Yup, that's in here too. The books only problem is (this is picky) typos. There are too many commas that aren't grammatically correct. Sometimes this works and allows the writer to control the pace of the sentence. Other times, it slows down the sentence in places where it shouldn't be slowed down, which momentarily took me out of the world of the TV Church. Furthermore, there are misspelled words throughout (they are rare but they do appear). For example, the author would accidentally write "they" instead of "the," which again took me out of his world. Granted, it only takes a couple more words to get back into this totally kick-booty world that is The Church of TV as God. Tired of reading the same crappy, commercial story time and time again? Pick up this damn book already and find yourself in a totally bizarre world where the TV cult/church will show you what's up!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ass Goblins of Auschwitz; Author: Visit Amazon's Cameron Pierce Page; Review: This book is extreme bizarro, which I like. I really enjoyed this book. With that said, I admit I did not like this book as much as some of Pierce's other work. If you have not read bizarro and aren't sure if you want to, do not start with this book. But if you dig bizarro, you need to read this book. It just might be the strangest of them all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grambo; Author: Dustin Reade; Review: Grambo is great! Essentially, if you do not want to read this book from the title alone, something is wrong. It's your sweet grandmother meets Rambo (to be honest, I'm not a fan of Rambo, but this book is much better). But if you do want to read this book from the title, know that the title is just the beginning... The book somehow gets so much better as the pages progress. Grambo and her gang of Sport Mascots go to war against Principle Mayonnaise and his teachers/beloved cheerleaders, who have slain Grambo's family. But if that is not enough, Dustin also uses clever ways to help the reader picture what is going on. For instance, one of the (short) chapters is titled Montage, which is a collection of scenes depicting the action of the chapter, some scenes are told in slow motion and others in black and white. With that said, this book is definitely not perfect. There are many instances where Dustin uses parking lot words/phrases, which distracted me from what was happening. And at times I felt like the characters and narrator would repeat the same thing. At some points, this is done purposefully and is comedic. However, at other points it feels that the author didn't mean for this to happen. But, that is a minor issue. Overall, this book had me laughing out loud and smiling pretty much all the way through. A fabulous first book and I can't wait to read anything Dustin will write in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die You Doughnut Bastards; Author: Visit Amazon's Cameron Pierce Page; Review: I absolutely LOVED this collection. Before this collection of stories/poems, I had never read anything written by Cameron Pierce. Granted, I have read many of the books he has published as the editor of Lazy Fascist Press (possibly my favorite small press). Therefore, I figured I needed to give him a go. And I loved just about every minute of it. My favorite pieces in this collection were "Die You Doughnut Bastards," "Blood Guineas," "Disappear," "Brief History of an Amputee," "Marsupial," "Lantern Jaws," and "The Prisoners." The only thing that bothered me about this collection was that I felt some of the poems were lacking. But those make up the minority of the collection. And as an added bonus, each story is displayed with an illustration by Pierce himself (in the style of Daniel Johnston). If you are a fan of bizarro fiction (or of anything strange in nature), then you need to buy this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shark Hunting in Paradise Garden; Author: Visit Amazon's Cameron Pierce Page; Review: What to say about Cameron Pierce's debut novella? Well, for starters, the story is totally kick ass. A weird futuristic Christian Cult called "Yahweh's Dawn" travels back in time to Paradise Garden in order to hunt sharks. They are invited by Adam & Eve, but when they get there they discover something unexpected. Giant sharks are at war with intelligent / humanesque robots, and worse, Adam & Eve don't even exist. Now they are on a mission to find God while trying to avoid death by Robots and/or Sharks. Furthermore, the writing is great. This book is totally bizarro and completely captivating. A wonderful debut. Granted, what more can we expect from the author who would go on to write The Pickled Apocalypse of Pancake Island and Die You Doughnut Bastards?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pickled Apocalypse of Pancake Island; Author: Visit Amazon's Cameron Pierce Page; Review: If you are a fan of maple syrup and/or beer, then you need to read this pickled love story. Seriously, read the damn book. It is one of the greatest stories ever told.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Skechers for Work Men's Cottonwood Elks Slip Resistant Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Excellent shoe ! As other reviewers stated the shoe is so comfortable I wore them all day and feet were rested. I do recommend to friends and family, the shoe seems to be well built.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Regular-Fit 5-Pocket Jean Heavyweight Cotton Denim Work Pants; Brand: ; Review: Great work pants! i will recommend to friends and family; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Regular-Fit 5-Pocket Jean Heavyweight Cotton Denim Work Pants; Brand: ; Review: Great work pants! i will recommend to friends and family; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers for Work Men's 76690 Keystone Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Amazingly surprised by how great this sneakers fit and feel after working a 9 or 10 Hr. Shift every single day. My feet don't feel tired at all I think I can work an additional 2 hours and not feel it at all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers for Work Women's 76510 Compulsions Indulgent Work Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Excellent Xmas gift ! My wife loves them and her feet don't tire as much as when wearing regular sneakers at work. She is always walking all day as a QC for her job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Regular Straight Fit Double Knee Stretch Twill Work Pant; Brand: ; Review: Excellent working pants! It fits very comfortable and met all our requirement by management . Dickies way to go ! You will not be disappointed at all I do recommend this pants 100% to friends and family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dickies 6-Pair Cushion Crew Crew Socks; Brand: ; Review: Great socks for the price! Won't be disappointed at all. I will buy them again when the time comes!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Andrew Scott 12 Pack Cotton Boxer Brief Trunks; Brand: ; Review: Excellent underwear! They are very comfortable fit very nicely!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SKECHERS MENS TOM CATS SERVEN OXFORD; Brand: ; Review: Not disappointed of this shoe it fit so nicely it is like hugging my feet tightly. Recommend to friends and family; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Men's No Ride Up Boxer Brief Multipacks, Colors may vary; Brand: ; Review: I really liked these underwear however I did find that after wearing them all day long everything started hanging loose , kind of losing its support.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Wool Melton Four Pocket Military Field Jacket; Brand: ; Review: Beautiful coat! It fits just as expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers for Work Men's 76759 Soft Stride Galley Work Boot; Brand: ; Review: Great working shoes!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Polo Assn. Men's Polar Fleece Mock Neck Jacket; Brand: U.S. Polo Assn.; Review: Great!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Armour Men's UA Micro G Assert IV Running Shoes; Brand: ; Review: Excellent workout shoes!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Naturalizer Women's Pressley Platform Dress Sandal; Brand: Naturalizer; Review: Shoe looks great however it didn't fit my wife . It came with knicks on the heels and like a very fine razor cut on the top of the shoe. Very disappointing!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vertico Shower Sandal Rubber; Brand: Vertico; Review: Excellent sandals!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Wool Four-Pocket Military Jacket; Brand: ; Review: Great coat! Just as described, will recommend to family and friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: adidas Men's Duramo 7 M, Black/Red, 9.5 M US; Brand: ; Review: Awesome pair sneakers. I just decided to get this pair as I am re dedicating my self to work out every single day until my weight goal is achieved. Way to go admiras!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Monaco Grand Canal; City: Venice Veneto; Review: I loved this hotel, its wonderful. Arrived by boat from Airport, room was amazing with a balcony. Everything about this hotel is great. You cant beat the location its the centre of Venice next to St Marcs Square. The Restaurant is a terrace facing the canal (Amazing) the bar is next door to the terrace and also is perfect. This hotel is a must for Venice. It is the best value for service and location.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Linden Hotel; City: London England; Review: The Hotel is small but it is in a fantastic location. Cant fault that. On arrivial I got sent to 4 different rooms till the receptionsit got me into mine. All rooms had ocupants in them. A little bit annoying for all of us!! I was in the basement, the room for the price was fine. In london its all about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Palm Garden Beach Resort Spa; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: Overall I dont want to be to critical because they are trying very hard but the hotel misses the mark. The room is great ( I had a beachfront bungalow) but the service around the pool was terriable. On our last day they started to install flags so you could wave them to get service. Its not the staffs fault at all; I saw no managers at all at anytime anywhere in the hotel. So I assume the staff are not trained. If in Hoi An I would stay at the Victoria. Looks great!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nirwana Gardens Mayang Sari Beach Resort; City: Lagoi Bintan Island Bintan Regency Riau Archi; Review: Well Bintan is a enclave only for tourists. No locals or town so its a bit strange. The Mayang Sari is OK I stayed in Starfish 4 for two days which was right on the beach. It is a good place if you dont want to leave the hotel. The rooms are old and tired but it is good value for money. The food at the hotel is terriable! If you want to eat good food the ONLY place is the Kelong Restaurant which was very nice; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mandarin Oriental Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: This is a great hotel in Singapore. The staff are excellent and the breakfast is the biggest buffet I have ever seen in a hotel. Overall it was a great stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Associa Toyohashi; City: Toyohashi Aichi Prefecture Tokai Chubu; Review: Not much happens in Toyohashi but this hotel is very nice and is located over the railway station and right in the center of town. Its good value, modern, nice and comfortable,.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forever Young (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Baby (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ring of Bright Water (1969); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mansfield Park (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Guess Who (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Flyers (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Flintstones: Season 1 (1960); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VeggieTales: Duke and the Great Pie War (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rookie (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Les Miserables (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Return to Me (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Giant: Special Edition (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 500 Nations (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silverado (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Joseph: King of Dreams (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sabrina (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Les Miserables (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Comes Softly (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Davey and Goliath: Vol. 1: Collector's Edition (1960); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I.Q. (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Without Limits (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shiloh (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robots (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Gospel of John (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ice Princess (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Black Stallion (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Because of Winn-Dixie (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Run (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garfield: The Movie (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Night Before Christmas and More Christmas Stories (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Christmas Story (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Diplomat Single Black Watch Winder with Built In IC Timer; Brand: Diplomat; Review: It work the first day, maybe bad luck for me. Be ware of the connector is shaky poor quality product; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Classic Fit 10K Gold Wedding Band, 4mm; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: dont buy them anywere else great price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Men's Cotton Classics Multipack Briefs; Brand: ; Review: as expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Men's Cotton Classics Short Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: as expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crocs Kids' Crocband Star Wars Hero Clog (Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: Kid love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas Deer MC Game Children Cartoon Schoolbag Pupils Shoulders Bag Kids Backpack (Style6); Brand: Christmas Deer; Review: My kid love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crocs Men's Kinsale Mesh Slip-on Loafer; Brand: ; Review: excellent Shoe; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: Nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Rey Don Felipe; City: Punta Arenas Magallanes Region; Review: Lovely hotel with great, friendly staff - thank you. Very well maintained in a handy position to town and the Strait. We stayed for only one night on our way back to Santiago from Torres del Paine. We would have been very happy to stay longer. All the hotel facilities are in great condition. An easy walk to town and the main square. Excellent hotel!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Andina Standard Cusco Plaza; City: Cusco Cusco Region; Review: We recently had two stays here. The hotel has a great location in the town centre near a number of squares. Our rooms were spacious and more than adequate for our stays. However, the standout for us was the great staff. Just so helpful and ready to assist. Alex in particular was just great. We had a problem with the locks on our suitcases and Alex persisted in finding the necessary tools and working with us until the problem was solved. Thank you for the excellent service.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbara Studios; City: Rethymnon Rethymnon Prefecture Crete; Review: We recently spent a week in Rethymnon visiting our son. We stayed at Barbara Studios. Lovely family run apartments right in the heart of the old town. Just like coming home. Such lovely, friendly hosts. We were thrilled each day to receive a beautiful home cooked treat - always exciting to find a new one waiting for us in our room! The rooms are spacious and very comfortably furnished. Thank you very much Panos and Iro!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Melbourne City; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: During I recent business trip to Melbourne I stayed in a Shoebox room. It was just great - really well maintained with a modern, fresh appearance. Its Spencer street location is extremely convenient. The staff were so friendly and helpful. I will definitely stay there again next time I am in Melbourne.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide; City: Adelaide Greater Adelaide South Australia; Review: Great location in the city - handy to Rundle Mall and the tram line. Very comfortable hotel with great staff - very friendly and helpful. Made my stay very easy. My room was very well set up. Will definitely stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bluelake Inn at Tahoe; City: South Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe California California; Review: South Lake Tahoe is a bit daunting for choosing accommodation.There is so much available but not easy to make a decision. The price also varies enormously depending on the time of the week. The Bluelake Inn looked nice and it turned out to be a great spot and a nice hotel.Very handy to everything. Nice breakfast as well. The location is very quiet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Estero Inn; City: Morro Bay San Luis Obispo County California; Review: By far the best hotel we stayed in during our west coast road trip. Our room was downstairs which we were unsure about because of foot traffic passing by. It turned out to be great - looking straight out on the bay - in fact the hotel is built over the water. The room was just beautiful. So well maintained with lovely furnishings. The staff were so friendly and helpful. Have to mention the breakfast. Freshly prepared with great coffee and a great range to choose from but the pancakes were fabulous!! Our best stay in four weeks of travel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yosemite View Lodge; City: El Portal California; Review: Stayed outside the park at the Lodge during our visit to Yosemite National Park. The location was great - away from the crowds in the Valley but only a short drive to the Park entrance. The staff were very helpful. Our room was great - had a balcony with a view of the Merced River. A pleasure to sit and have a wine at the end of the day and watch and listen to the river. The room was quite big with a fireplace and huge spa in the bathroom - we felt very spoilt!! It also had a kitchenette. It is a large lodge and is very busy at the end of each day but the rooms are very private. We throughly enjoyed our stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Landis Shores An Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast Inn; City: Half Moon Bay California; Review: We stayed two nights with a late checkout at the end of a US holiday. It is a short drive to San Francisco airport - about 30 minutes. The location is great - right on the beach but very quiet. We were fortunate enough to see a whale cruising up and down the beach! The hotel is charming. Large rooms - ours had a view of the bay. Anne was a great host - very informative, friendly and wanting to help. The breakfast was great and snacks and coffee available all day. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. It was a great way to finish off our US holiday.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Klamath Falls; City: Klamath Falls Oregon; Review: The best Motel 6 we stayed in. Very clean room and close to a range of facilities as well as the main road through town. Happy to stay again while travelling through. The staff were very friendly and helpful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ranchito Motel; City: Quincy Plumas County California; Review: Great old style motel in East Quincy. The Ranchito is the opposite of the many chain motels and this makes for a charming stay. The location is extremely convenient within walking distance of restaurants and stores. The grounds are beautiful set in amongst trees with a stream running through the grounds. Made for a relaxing and refreshing stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ranch at Death Valley; City: Death Valley National Park California; Review: Spent a couple of nights at the Ranch. It is quite a large complex and gets quite busy - there is not a lot else around!! Our room was great - on the top floor with a balcony and view over the golf course. It was and well air-conditioned. More than adequate for our stay. Car parking was handy. We really enjoyed our stay but there a couple of minor disappointments. We had paid for our accommodation from Australia. However, on arrival we were told there was an additional resort fee of US$13.44 per day - it seems everyone was told the same thing. The resort fee was a bit rich when we tried to have lunch at the buffet only to be told it was closed to guests because it was providing lunch to six tour buses. Not sure if this happens every day?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Centennial Hotel; City: Cambridge Cambridgeshire England; Review: We stayed for 4 nights. Our room was very comfortable. Breakfasts were great. A very good location - close to the station as well as the city centre. Free onsite parking was excellent!! Staff were very friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge; City: Lake Manyara National Park Arusha Region; Review: Wow!!! This was our first night on Safari and when Jo our Ranger Safari guide dropped us off we were overwhelmed by the welcome and the lodge. Just spectacular!!! Fantastic position, magnificent rooms, great food and wonderful staff. We were tempted to stay instead of going on safari!!! One of our best ever accommodation experiences.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Victoria Falls Hotel; City: Victoria Falls Matabeleland North Province; Review: A stunning hotel from a different era!! Thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the Stables Signature Wing. Staff, rooms, grounds and facilities are just superb. Breakfasts in Jungle Junction were great as was drinks and dinner on the verandah overlooking the beautiful grounds.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waterfront Hotel; City: Deal Kent England; Review: We stayed for 3 nights in a waterfront room. Absolutely loved the water view, the position and the staff. Breakfast watching the sun rise over the sea was a delight. The meals were great. The staff so friendly and helpful. Just a short stroll from Deal High Street.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serengeti Sopa Lodge; City: Serengeti National Park; Review: A great location inside the park nestled into the side of a hill with wonderful views. The lodge is a little tired but is more than compensated for by its wonderful staff and location. So handy to wildlife viewing. We thoroughly enjoyed our two nights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Johannesburg The Rosebank; City: Johannesburg Greater Johannesburg Gauteng; Review: Good location with large and comfortable rooms. Extensive buffet breakfasts with wonderful, attentive staff. A short stroll to the Rosebank Mall and shops. Easy access to the airport. Would stay again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arusha Coffee Lodge; City: Arusha Arusha Region; Review: We stayed at the Coffee Lodge for one night prior to and one night after our safari. A great base in Arusha. Our whole experience was excellent. Lovely friendly staff, beautiful grounds, great room as well as an excellent breakfast and dinner venues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zanzibar Serena Hotel; City: Stone Town Zanzibar City Zanzibar Island Zanzibar Archipelago; Review: A lovely hotel in a great spot. We thoroughly enjoyed our three nights. It is in a great position next the the water as well as Stonetown. The facilities and staff are excellent. Extremely friendly and helpful. We upgraded to a waterfront room and were thrilled with the veranda and view. The seafood feast is excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Hotter You Burn (Original Heartbreakers); Author: Visit Amazon's Gena Showalter Page; Review: Loved it!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Nalini Singh Page; Review: A great book!!! The book had a lot of detail about the characters and the world they live in. The chemistry between the hero and heroine was smooth and well written. I have read this book many times. This book is a quick read!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: With Every Breath: A Slow Burn Novel (Slow Burn Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Maya Banks Page; Review: This book I thought was amazing!! The plot line and characters emotions were well developed. I thought the relationship between the heroine and her man was epic. It showed how much he cared for her and the length to which he would go to show it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wolf of Haskell Hall (Candleglow); Author: Visit Amazon's Colleen Shannon Page; Review: This book was good. The chemistry and the storyline clicked for me. I also liked the introduction to shelly in here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fire Bound (Sea Haven); Author: Visit Amazon's Christine Feehan Page; Review: I love Christine Feehan book's they Rock!! This book from start to finish delivers. The characters chemistry is off the charts!! The book is fast paced and full of action. The heroine and hero are a definite book to read by the fire or by a bath or even reading in bed. Enjoy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Guardians: The Guardians Book One; Author: Mandy M. Roth; Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. The plot was well developed and the chemistry between the heroine and hero was smoking hot! I've read some of Mandy Roth book's before and I am glad to include this story in my collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Jelly Belly Black Jelly Beans, Licorice, 1 Pound; Brand: Jelly Belly; Review: Perfect Jelly Belly Beans. Couldn't be happier. My recent guests loaded up on these and wanted to know where I got them. There were about twently left by the end of the gathering.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gimbal's All Natural Black Licorice Scottie Dogs, 1 lb Bag in a BlackTie Box; Brand: Black Tie Mercantile; Review: I am not sure what the five star people tasted but it certainly was not licorice by any stretch of the imagination. Where flavor is concerned you might as well eat the cardboard box that bore these tasteless little doggies. If I could give this garbage a minus rating I would. They had absolutely NO licorice flavor whatsoever. Will never order Gimbal's products again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: ZOT 100% Organic Licorice, Original, 0.4-Ounce Flip Top Boxes (Pack of 6); Brand: ZOT; Review: Surprisingly not licorice like at all. Very disappointe.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Frontier Chili Powder Blend, 16-Ounce Bag; Brand: Frontier; Review: Not as flavorful as some Chili Powders but the price was good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kevala Organic Toasted Sesame Seeds 2Lbs; Brand: Kevala; Review: Great product. Will buy again after I use up the two pounds I have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eight O'Clock Whole Bean Coffee, Hazelnut, 33 Ounce; Brand: Eight O'Clock Coffee; Review: Haven't been able to find this locally. It's the only coffee I keep in house. The flavor and quality are outstanding.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Conspirator; Brand: James McAvoy; Review: Was excited about watching this movie, but I did not like it!!! Was very disappointed, the acting, dialog, even the pace of movie (which is robert Redford directing ) was very bad. I think Redford mixed up century's, some of the casting was bad. Little Rory was terrible every time she was on screen . Please don't waste your time.....; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Conspirator; Brand: ; Review: Was excited about watching this movie, but I did not like it!!! Was very disappointed, the acting, dialog, even the pace of movie (which is robert Redford directing ) was very bad. I think Redford mixed up century's, some of the casting was bad. Little Rory was terrible every time she was on screen . Please don't waste your time.....; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ida (DVD); Brand: Pawel Pawlikowski; Review: Excellent! A very interesting story about WW2. Amazing, the personal story's will never end from that war and era. This was acting and story telling at its best.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angels in America; Brand: Al Pacino; Review: This was so good! The acting was wonderful! The story heartbreaking!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Band Of Brothers (DVD); Brand: Damian Lewis; Review: We watched Band of Brothers so many times, it just keeps getting better and better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Band of Brothers(Elite SC/BD+DCExp12-21); Brand: Various; Review: We watched Band of Brothers so many times, it just keeps getting better and better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin'; Brand: ; Review: Very bad, don't waste your time. One star is to high of a review.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Solid 925 Sterling Silver Bridal Set Princess Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring with Matching Channel Set Wedding Band CZ Cubic Zirconia; Brand: Sonia Jewels; Review: I feel like I got what I paid for over all. I purchased the ring on Oct 8, I received it on the 11th WOW! All that's left now is to ask the question feeling proud about what I bought lol, I will definitely buy something bigger and better in quality soon but this ring definitely makes it happen for the moment! I wish I could post a pic of how it looked when I got it Thanks for everything!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metal Masters Co. Titanium Men's Wedding Band Engagement Ring with 9 large Princess Cut Cubic Zirconia; Brand: Metal Masters Co.; Review: For the price I paid for this ring it looks more than worth it, I purchased the item on Oct 8, it reach me a day earlier than it was to arrive. I'm happy about the punctuation and quality of the material, I most definitely recommend this item an I wish I could post a pic of how it looks when I got it. Thank you Metal Master!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mondaynoon Chain Necklace - Heart Shape Clear Crystal Pendant Necklace, 16" - 18"; Brand: Mondaynoon; Review: I gave it a 5 star because the delivery was very prompt and actually arrive a week before the date, the quality of the product is great for the price I paid AND my fiance loved it and that is important and that's 90% of the fives I gave an the other 10; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubies Captain America: The Winter Soldier Retro Costume Shield, 12"; Brand: Rubie's; Review: I like the shield it was just right for my costume, thanks again from the happy customer!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubie's Men's Avengers 2 Age of Ultron Adult Captain America; Brand: ; Review: This product fits fine, I'm 6'1" 228lbs it came with a mask, belt and the outfit I bought the shield separately. I would definitely do business with this company again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: On Being a Therapist; Author: Jeffrey Kottler; Review: It's been awhile since I read this . It gave me another perspective - that of the therapist . How difficult it must be to daily do this work , maintain a professional role and at the same time listen to so many sorrows - knots .....; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swamplands of the Soul (STUDIES IN JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY BY JUNGIAN ANALYSTS); Author: Visit Amazon's James Hollis Page; Review: Serious and sincere , this book takes you to heart of struggle to identify how, where, and why we get stuck . No easy way out - just thru - as we knew .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: St. Jean Roncesvalles Santiago (Camino Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's John Brierley Page; Review: This book is a great reference and resource to the challenge of the walk . Practical advice for all seasons .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Psychotherapy without the Self: A Buddhist Perspective; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Epstein Page; Review: Difficult to address - not finished reading I think this book is an effort to bridge the duality that has existed between Western and Eastern thought in this process - psychology . psychotherapy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Nudist Culture; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry Darter Page; Review: Could perhaps be more inclusive but overall gives a genuine overview of the oft misunderstood culture of American Naturism .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn't Teach You and Medication Can't Give You; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard O'Connor Page; Review: Just as the title says - this book gives the reader tool for understanding how your depression is doing you - while offering insightful suggestions for becoming aware . I recommend it .; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The First Phone Call from Heaven: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mitch Albom Page; Review: In general, the First phone Call from heaven is very enjoyable reading. I was a little dissapointed with the ending. I was perhaps expecting a spectacular fantasy ending. I would recommend to friends for an enjoyable read though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Real Life: Preparing for the 7 Most Challenging Days of Your Life; Author: Dr. Phil McGraw; Review: Who better to write about Real Life than Dr. Phil? His experience in real situations working with other professionals provide clear ways to get motivated, stay focused, and advice for those seven days that will hit all of us at one time or another in our lifetimes. Some of the information in this book is covered through previous books Dr Phil has written. For anyone needing self help and or motivation to get going, I highly reccomend this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GOING GREEN USING DIATOMACEOUS EARTH HOW-TO TIPS: An Easy Guide Book Using A Safer Alternative, Natural Silica; Author: Tui Rose; Review: I am an avid gardener with multiple pets. So many uses, it's fantasic. I have recommended the book to others for instruction of how to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Phone Call from Heaven; Author: Mitch Albom ( MI QI A ER BO MU ); Review: In general, the First phone Call from heaven is very enjoyable reading. I was a little dissapointed with the ending. I was perhaps expecting a spectacular fantasy ending. I would recommend to friends for an enjoyable read though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The First Phone Call from Heaven: A Novel; Author: Mitch Albom; Review: In general, the First phone Call from heaven is very enjoyable reading. I was a little dissapointed with the ending. I was perhaps expecting a spectacular fantasy ending. I would recommend to friends for an enjoyable read though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: { { [ THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN ] By Albom, Mitch ( Author ) Nov - 2013; Author: Visit Amazon's Mitch Albom Page; Review: In general, the First phone Call from heaven is very enjoyable reading. I was a little dissapointed with the ending. I was perhaps expecting a spectacular fantasy ending. I would recommend to friends for an enjoyable read though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Front Runner (Plume); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Nell Warren Page; Review: I first read this book in the 70's and have enjoyed it many times since. I am waiting for someone to make the movie! This is a timeless story of deep enduring love. Themes of sports, rebellion, hate, love, homophobia & victory entertwine within the characters as do fine grapes on a warmed Tuscany vine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gold Coast: Three Californias (Wild Shore Triptych); Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Stanley Robinson Page; Review: I loved it, all of it. The kinky fantasy fullfillment of man & wife on a galloping horse in the wealthy region of Long Island made me smile, in more ways than one. A modern F. Scott, Demille gives a great look into lives of the old money families, including the maffia, with much wit and intrigue.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plum Island; Author: Nelson Demille; Review: From possible terorrist biological contamination to lust to pirates treasures, DeMille covers it all. Well developed characters & a twisting, turning plotline, left me wanting more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter; Author: Visit Amazon's Nelson DeMille Page; Review: This Demille thriller seemed to get lost in typical bureaucratic red tape. Too many characters, not enough plot. One dead daughter & all her sexual conquests. Strangely this is the one they made into a movie. Read "Spencerville", "Plum Island", or "The Gold Coast" for true Demille devilish pleasure.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fat Tuesday; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: I like Brown's murderous streaks. In "Fat Tuesday", she captures all of that and still keeps her sense of romance. So descriptive, I felt as if I were reading it atop a vine covered New Orleans balcony with warmed powdered sugar all over my lips. Yum.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spencerville; Author: Visit Amazon's Nelson DeMille Page; Review: This is my favorite Demille thriller. I just read the last 200 pages as if it were a movie in itself! With subtle social commentaries regarding small town life, war atrocities, then leading right into sadistic sexual acts of a depraved Sheriff. A cast of characters that will take you from laughter (love the hippie friends) to out loud gasps!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Basilica; Author: William Montalbano; Review: Not in this thriller. In "Basilica",we get an extreme inside look into the "new" Pope's fast paced, sometimes humorous, yet dangerous life. Well defined characters & a vivid twisitng plotline, left me confessing, I want more!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Totems: The Transformative Power of Your Personal Animal Totem; Author: Visit Amazon's Brad Steiger Page; Review: Martini's "Undue Influence" starts off a tad slow & builds to a sweep-you-off-your-feet thriller. Just when I had it figured out, I didn't...or did I? Murder, lust, mistrust..what more could you want? I found it much more than a courtroom drama.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Charm School; Author: Nelson Demille; Review: Althouh many of DeMille's works have left me wanting more, "The Charm School", was utterly verbose. Thankfully, his later works were edited down to better capture the essence of the plot. I did get the same feelings as portrayed in this book when I visited Yalta and Odessa back in 1991. Alot of sad people always under their Government's thumb. Try "Spencerville", "Plumb Island" and "The Gold Coast" for better reads.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bridges Of Madison County; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert James Waller Page; Review: I have read this book at least a dozen times & have learned something about love and sacrifice each time. It is to me, the most profound love story ever written. In it's simplicity lies it's lyrical treasures. Try reading it aloud. Each word will roll off your tongue as hushed whispers in a candlelit Iowan kitchen. And, yes, as the author suggests in his foreward...you too may even learn to "dance" again~~; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Messiah; Author: Visit Amazon's Boris Starling Page; Review: This book totally swept me into the British world of a detective named "Red". Someone needs to make the movie...it just might surpass "Silence of the Llambs" as a superb mystery thriller. From the 1st murder to all the clues, the characters, plot & even sub-plots of Red's own family predicament is engrossing. Read it! Revel in it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Sunday; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Harris Page; Review: From fiendish terrorism on our own turf to political insanity, you'll never look at another *blimp* the same way again! Great read & oh so dangerously possible!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Kept Secrets; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: Sandra Brown keeps you in suspense & sex. From vengeful thoughts over her mother's murder to lustful longings over one of the possible murderers and all the characters in between, this is a good summer read. You might also enjoy *Exclusive* by Brown & *Tall, Dark & Deadly* by Heather Graham.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Harris Page; Review: A superb thriller by one of the masters of the genre. Thomas Harris takes us into the lives of some horrific criminals & heroic crime investigators. Harris weaves his plots, characters, & their backgrounds so well.....that I almost, ALMOST, found myself feeling sorry for the ghastly "D". The way his Grandmother had treated him, his disfigurements, & insecurities rang so true with me. I also craved more about the gracious yet gnawing Lecter. I suppose, this would be one of the authors goals.....just how well do we allow ourselves to know our darker side? Having read, "Silence of the Llambs", "Hannibal", and "Black Sunday"; one thing is for certain, I will gladly wait another 10 years for an additonal Harris mind-delving masterpiece. Another great graphic gripper is, "Messiah", by Boris Starling.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Standoff; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: I too had been waiting for Ms. Brown's latest book. This one left me flat. I read the short story in just a few hours & felt the "teenage" trama could have been more fully developed. And to be honest, I missed the mix of passionate romantic scenes & suspense of her other books such as "Fat Tuesday" or "Exclusive". They always made my heart flutter and as Ms. Brown might say, "...my lower regions moisten."; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Red Dragon; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Harris Page; Review: A superb thriller by one of the masters of the genre. Thomas Harris takes us into the lives of some horrific criminals & heroic crime investigators. Harris weaves his plots, characters, & their backgrounds so well.....that I almost, ALMOST, found myself feeling sorry for the ghastly "D". The way his Grandmother had treated him, his disfigurements, & insecurities rang so true with me. I also craved more about the gracious yet gnawing Lecter. I suppose, this would be one of the authors goals.....just how well do we allow ourselves to know our darker side? Having read, "Silence of the Llambs", "Hannibal", and "Black Sunday"; one thing is for certain, I will gladly wait another 10 years for an additonal Harris mind-delving masterpiece. Another great graphic gripper is, "Messiah", by Boris Starling.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: While I Was Gone; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Miller Page; Review: Yes, I too read this book because of Oprah's pick. In this story, Jo, the happy housewife & acclompished Veterinarian has her secretive past life of living in a commune come back to haunt her. I did enjoy parts of this book by Ms. Miller. Especially the frenzied middle that made my eyes open wide! I commend her for always showing rights & wrongs & heroic measures sometimes needed in being a woman.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: If Looks Could Kill; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Using the glamorous backdrops of Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and The Keys to the dangerous Everglades swamps, Ms. Graham once again develops a plot that is all heat. Lust and trust get Kyle & Madison through their ordeals as their wealthy extended families play their roles in tracking down a serial killer. Madison's psychic *gift* of being able to see the victims, but not the muderer and Kyle's FBI expertise, has this once step-brother & step-sister as a team working together at all odds. Fun, romantic, mystery reading. Great for a summer read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Empty Chair (Lincoln Rhyme Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffery Deaver Page; Review: Mr. Deaver consistently educates me as well as entertains me with his thrillers. In "Empty Chair", two of my favorite crime team players are back. Rhymes and Sachs are a great contrasting mix.....like pineapple & peanut butter sandwiches! Tartly sweet & a dab of stubborn goo. Just like these two, now caught up in a murder kidnapping case. The setting takes place in North Carolina. Rhymes, a paraplegic from previous police work, is there for surgery. Sachs, a sassy ex-model, is there for, maybe some trouble? *smile* They are both there to track down a bug obsessed suspect nicknamed "Insect Boy". Enjoy the read, the twisting ride.. I never dare to think I know the conclusion. Deaver gets me everytime! other reading suggestions : "Messiah" by Boris Starling, "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King & "The Coffin Dancer" by Jeffrey Deaver; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bag of Bones; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: We know King as a master of horror. In "Bag of Bones" he is also a skillfully complete story teller. The plot begins about a man, also a writer, his tragically killed wife and a journey to find himself again. You might want to put the coffee on....what takes place at their re-visited lake home might have you up 'til the morning sunlight tickles at your toes! I liked the intricate weaving of ghostly spirits, racial history, lust , & love. Some parts were so vivid, I could tightly close my eyes and still hear the screams. Read it & remember it always. other reading suggestions: "Messiah" by Boris Starling, "Hannibal" by Thomas Harris, "The Empty Chair" by Jeffery Deaver if you find my comments interesting, please click the "yes"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Long, Lean, and Lethal; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Heather Graham grabs you & doesn't let go! In this romantic thriller, Jennifer Connolly is a soap star amongst the flashy backdrop of Hollywood. She is also privy to a series of Hitchcock style murders that just may include herself. I could tell you all about her sexy co-star Conar....but, I'll let you experience him on your own. "Long, Lean, and Lethal" is one summer read not to miss! if you find my comments interesting, please click the "yes"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Teardrop; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffery Deaver Page; Review: Jeffrey Deaver delivers another chiller thriller in "The Devils Teardrop". Imagine yourself partying on New Years Eve of the new millenium in Washington, D.C.....suddenly bursts of bullets hammer everyone & everything around you. Who could be doing these horrid acts every 4 hours and why? Enter Parker Kincaid and Margaret Lukas. Along with an elite hand picked team, these two experts are fighting multiple "dead"-lines by the Digger. I thouroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the intricate character developments. Especially between Parker, a model father, and Lukas, an introspective woman fighting her own demons. And the title? Clever. After learning so much about handwriting analysis....I always watch for dotted "i's". As I anxiously thumbed each page,I kept thinking, "Ah-Hah! Thats it!". Wrong. Riddles abound. Read it & hold on devishly tight! other reading suggestions: "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King , "Messiah" by Boris Starling"....; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Critical Mass; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Martini Page; Review: Once again Steve Martini brings out the best in lawyers. Now, now, no snickering! In "Critical Mass", we meet Joss, someone we can all relate to. She wants to leave the hustle bustle of this whacky wired world. She starts her own law office in a supposedly quiet area. Add a mysterious illness among the local fishermen, a wealthy but possibly lethal client, a dab of government hanky panky...and we get a twisting energetic legal thriller from Martini. I enjoyed this book. I finished it & then promptly handed it to my husband. He already likes it. And he is usally not one for female heroines. But, he is hooked on this one. if you find my comments interesting, please click the *yes*--thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tall, Dark, and Deadly; Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Graham Page; Review: Amongst the backdrop of flashy Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, lurking monsters in the Everglades, Graham grips you again into the world of mystery & romance. I relaxed & had fun with this book. I could feel the danger lurking off Key Biscayne. The twisting complex relationship between Sam, a witty, brave woman & Rowan, her sexy ex-lover was truly enjoyable. I found myself leary but pulling for them. "Tall, Dark, and Deadly" left me thrilled, chilled, and satisfied. if you find my comments interesting, please click the *yes*--thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion's Game; Author: Nelson Demille; Review: Nelson Demille delivers another thriller. In "The Lions Game", I had to allow myself to try to understand the Muslim culture. Once past that, I just sat back & enjoyed the harrowing game. John Corey is back with his witty, sometimes over the top wisecracking. Sexy Kate is there to keep him in line. It all starts with a 747 arriving in NY with over 300 souls lost. The plane lands itself. Everyone is dead, or are they? The chaos of a viciously vengeful Libyan psuedo-defector continues from there. I liked this book. I enjoyed the back & forth of Corey's 1st person & the mix of the "Lions" perspective. And the sidebar mentions from some of Demilles other books mixed in from "The Gold Coast" and "Plum Island" were good to see. Parts of it I read out loud to my husband, He loves Corey's sometimes sexist but funny ways. I do too, most of the time. A good book, enjoy it. (...)-CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Special Delivery; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: Whenever I want to relax with a book of love, hope, conquering fears....I buy Danielle Steel. Although it may be simplistic, "Granny Dan", is a short, sweet, provocative story. Using the backdrop of Czarist Russia allowed me to see the glitter, the gold & the powers of the rich. As well as the trials & tribulations of those held in the grip of their powers. Steele always describes so well I feel as if I am "there". From crystal chandeliers to peasant feasts of butter and marmalade and fresh baked breads. Not just a dancers story...a story of love for everyone. if you find my comments interesting, please click the "yes"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Reader (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Vintage International); Author: Visit Amazon's Bernhard Schlink Page; Review: Bernard Schlink & Carol Janeway give us a smooth, poingnant, German translated book of love, eroticism and shocking hideous crime. In "The Reader", I found myself easily drawn into Michael and Hanna's passionate world. We follow their lives from their 1st meeting when Michael is 15 & Hanna is 25. And onto when Michael is a young law student and Hanna is on trial for an unspeakable crime. As in most "Oprah's Picks"....this is a book of hope in it's truist form. A daunting novel for all. if you find my comments interesting, please click the "yes"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Morning After; Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Forster Page; Review: Ok, I admit, I bought this book because of the cover. Those eyes on that guy said..."Pick me up!" After that, I found the plot interesting but the cut & paste aspect of the writing & editing let me down. In "Morning After", Ms. Forster gives us Temple Banning and her new life of marriage, pregnancy & evolving danger. Temple does not remember it at all. Is it hers? Or are there demons at work here? Again the plot is good. If you like a quick summer read with intrigue & some romance, this is for you. if you find my comments interesting, please click the "yes"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: B.B. King & Eric Clapton - Riding with the King (Guitar Recorded Version); Author: Eric Clapton; Review: Put on this CD of great covers, close your eyes & I swearyou'll feel as if you are right there....at a little front table, 3am, candles flickering, smoke circling....witnessing a bluesy jazz jam to remember. King & Clapton meld their talents as well as their passions in "Riding With The King". "Come Rain Or Come Shine" evoked magical memories. And as the title song says".....going to the promise land, every woman, child, and man....a Cadillac, and a great big diamond ring, don't you know you're riding with the king...." says it all. Sexy & soulful...an essential addition to your collection! --CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Exclusive; Author: SANDRA BROWN; Review: This fast paced treasure from Sandra Brown delivers us into the secretive world of politics. Barrie Travis, a news boadcaster, is privy to information of the death of the First Lady's infant son. And is twisted into doing the story, the whole story. Between the mania of the press, the sleazy political characters, the mental health of the First Lady & Barrie's own tangles with her bosses, this is an intriguing plot that is plausible & very bold. I thouroughly enjoyed this book. One of Browns best. With all that has gone on at the White House in the last few years....very beliveable! Grab your beach chair, towel & sunscreen....you'll be there 'til the surprising end. if you find my comments of interest, please click the "YES"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Return; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Sala Page; Review: In "The Return", Dinah McCall just misses in giving her readers a satisfying story. Somehow, the plot just lacks that certain McCall magic. Set in the hills of Kentucky, we read about, Catherine, who returns to her city of birth. Trials & tribulations over mean-spirited people almost overwhelm her. There is not much intrigue or fully developed characters. I do commend the authors message of how hurtful gossip & such can be. When romance writing is at it's best.... we expect rich, full, textural images and characters that make our hearts soar. Hopefully Ms. McCall will "return" with one soon.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Remember Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Sala Page; Review: In "Remember Me", Ms. Sala gives us a complete, intriguing, and loving story. Francesca and Clay LaGrand simply soar as compelling characters. Several times while reading, I found myself clutching this smooth book to my chest and questioning, ".....would I, could I, be THAT strong if I lost two years of my life & all my loved ones thought I had been dead....and then to get everything back, I had to overcome a stranger, a horrifying stalker, could I do that?....". This is a fast paced read. Very well written for the genre. Rich, textural & moving. Read it & remember its lessons well. if you find my comments of interest, please click the "YES"--thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Return; Author: Visit Amazon's Dinah McCall Page; Review: In "The Return", Dinah McCall just misses in giving her readers a satisfying story. Somehow, the plot just lacks that certain McCall magic. Set in the hills of Kentucky, we read about, Catherine, who returns to her city of birth. Trials & tribulations over mean-spirited people almost overwhelm her. There is not much intrigue or fully developed characters. I do commend the authors message of how hurtful gossip & such can be. When romance writing is at it's best.... we expect rich, full, textural images and characters that make our hearts soar. Hopefully Ms. McCall will "return" with one soon.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Witness; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: Ms. Brown has brought us another powerfully written romantic thriller. In "The Witness", we meet Kendall Deaton, a strong, loving, woman on the run. From the opening setting of a horrid auto accident to her runaway life with her pseduo-husband....the authoress keeps us turning the pages as fast as we can read them. A great romatic read for summer or any season! Thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: I have read this book several times and am always enthralled by its unique power and beauty. Unlike most of Steele's books, "The Ghost", reaches a strikingly vivid plateau without the usual glitz and glamour. In fact, when I want to daydream, I take myself to the hidden away castle, surrounded by snow covered pines and lovingly restored to European charm by Charles. Charles Waterford leaves England for America, happens upon a closed bed & breakfast during an icy snow storm. The destiny of it all is incredible. From the lonely widow he meets, the local librarian he lusts for and the ghostly presence of Sarah Ferguson in his "castle". Now, add in the history of a lifetime ago with Native Americans.....and you experience a texturally rich melding of the past and the now. If you believe in fate, you will love "The Ghost". Thanks--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Father & Son; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Maas Page; Review: In "The Thin Dark Line", Tami Hoag gives us Deputy Annie Boussard. After finding a mutilated body of a woman in Louiana's French Triangle, Annie is faced with tracking a killer and risking her own life. I liked the way Ms. Hoag wove this story of romance and mystery. And I have to admit, I blushingly had a crush on Detective Nick Fourcade. A man like that just has to be trusted....or does he? The *Cajun French Glossary" in the back of the book was a linguial plus. A riveting romp of a book "mes amies"!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Valentine; Author: Visit Amazon's James Michael Pratt Page; Review: In "The Last Valentine", James Pratt simply & sweetly tells a story of true endearing love. Although a bit altruistic, I found this short novel to pluck at my heartstrings. Coming from divorced parents myself, I too have wondered if total devotion exists. And that is what TV reporter Susan Allison is attemtpting to discover. On her quest she meets Neil Thomas, Jr. who shares his parents enduring relationship starting with their tearful good-byes during WWII. A good blend of present day and past. A circle within a circle. If you still believe in love stories....this "Valentine" is a "Hallmark". Thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Message in a Bottle; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sparks Page; Review: Haven't you ever wanted to find a message in a drifting bottle? Wondering how far it has travelled to find you? Who could have written it? In "Message In A Bottle", Nicholas Sparks gives us a disillusioned Theresa Osborne on a needed vacation at Cape Cod. She discovers just that....an intriguing letter twisted into an exquiste bottle. From there, she tracks down the writer, Garrett, in North Carolina. The development of their relationship is like surfing on one's deepest emotions. Curling and rolling and smashing ashore. Simplistic yet satisfying IF you allow yourself to believe in destiny and the fate of the winds. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pied Piper; Author: Visit Amazon's Ridley Pearson Page; Review: As it says on the book backing...."Who's that knocking at your door?...Do you always look?...Do you always know?", I kept asking myself those piercing questions throughout this horrific yet fascinating read. In "The Pied Piper", Pearson gives us a twisting plot that hits home hard, especially if you have children. Seattle detective Lou Boldt and Daphne Matthews, a forensic specialist team up to hunt down the penne flute leaving abducter. Well woven plot that grips you in terror and does not let go, not even after the last page is read. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Street Lawyer; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: John Grisham has done it again. And this time with a very important moral message. In, "The Street Lawyer", we meet Micahel Brock. A young aspisring attorney in the dizzy fast paced world of billing hours & large firm politics. When Michael goes out into the streets, he is faced with reality at its worst. As he overcomes his fears, he becomes a true fighter for social causes. He even takes on his old firm. And they just might want to eliminate him. In my opinion, one of Grishams best since his first, "A Time To Kill". Thanks -- CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lucky's Lady (Loveswept); Author: Visit Amazon's Tami Hoag Page; Review: In this romantic mystery, Tami Hoag gives us Elizabeth Stuart, a reputed divorcee of ill-gotten gains and a non-trusting Sheriff, Dane Jantzen. Their relationship begins with wisecracking banter from her and long lengthy stares from him after she is brought in for questioning about the dead body that dropped at her feet. I did enjoy the mix of romance & mystery. I just thought the plot could have been more fully developed. Still a good read. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Puerto Vallarta Squeeze; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert James Waller Page; Review: Robert Waller likes to ink short novels. Yet, he seems to pack a plethora of emotional punches in them. And "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze" is no exception. This one is action filled. As a novelist, Danny Pastor, with writers block, decides to check out wide open Mexico for ideas. Add a vile assassin, a lustful 22 year old Luz Maria, and a desperate need for money, and we are taken down a dangerous road of desires. Suspenseful & sexy.....a wild ride of a read! You might also enjoy "Border Music" by Robert Waller and "The Pied Piper" by Ridley Pearson Thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harlan's Race: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Nell Warren Page; Review: Do you ever feel so silly sometimes when you miss something important? That's how I felt about this sequel to one of my all time favorite books, "The Front Runner". Fortunately I read some of the reviews of Patrica Warrens first in this series and realized "Harlans Race" existed. I found myself excited to have the chance to rekindle my affection for these characters. In this look at Harlans life after Billy's demise, we see an even edgier, harder, Harlan. And rightfully so. These 20 years later...times are tougher. From lusting after Vince, to militant gay politics to Harlans secretive seductive past, we are privy to an emotional ride. I admire the way Ms. Warren captures our very essence of humanistic nature. One does not have to be gay to appreciate this...just open minded. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skipping Christmas; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Well, as a fan of John Grisham, it is difficult for me to find the negatives in his work. However, in "The Partner", I found myself floundering to continue reading. And I do believe Grisham is now groping to keep up with the high demand for his books. The plot seemed like a "plug & play" device. Lawyer, Patrick Lanigan steals millions from his huge law firm. His troubles really begin when they find him in Brazil, living a quiet life as Danilo Silva. This is quasi so-so read, but nothing compared to Grisham's first, "A Time To Kill". Thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Killobyte; Author: Visit Amazon's Piers Anthony Page; Review: Firstly, this is not my favorite book genre. However, on advice from a friend I surprisingly enjoyed "Killobyte". Piers Anthony gives us an intriguing concept of virtual reality in "game form". We meet heroic Walter Toland, an ex-policeman, now forced to be wheelchair bound. And Baal Curran, an introspective High Schol senior, who has retreated into a world of her own. Playing "Killobyte" brings them together on a journey of understanding and victory. A complete, well written story. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidden Fires; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: In "Hidden Fires", Sandra Brown bastes her readers with sweeping strokes of romance and action set in the days when Railroads were king. We meet Lauren Holbrook as she makes a devilish deal to enter a wealthy Texas family. Her relationship with Jared Lockett begins as raw as uncooked veal. As the plot continues, enter Jared's tyrannical mother, Olivia Lockett. Despite her attempts to char chaos in all the characters lives, we find ourselves pulling deeply for Lauren & Jared. Although I prefer Ms. Browns more recent novels, I did enjoy this romp of a romantic read. You might also enjoy: "Exclusive" by Sandra Brown and "The Last Valentine" by James Pratt Thanks for your interest--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Abuse of Power; Author: Visit Amazon's Nancy Taylor Rosenberg Page; Review: Nancy Taylor Rosenberg has created another powerful book of a feminine based legal thriller. In, "Abuse Of Power", we meet Rachel Simmons. Not a lawyer but a policewoman who witnesses a fellow officer planting false evidence. Almost as if in a tug of war with her conscience and her job expectations, Rachel progresses to show what happens when it is truly one against the world, her world. I found alot of characters to keep up with, but a good read for non-graphic legal thrillers. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Invisible Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Ralph Ellison Page; Review: I originally read this superb book back in my High School days. Required reading and all. And recently rediscoverd Mr. Ellison's masterpiece when my oldest son was raving to me about the book he HAD to read! In "Invisible Man", we never actually know the narrator...he is invisible in name, but, in bringing us his nightmarish journey cross racial divides, he is very high profile. We travel with him from the Deep South to the ravaged streets of Harlem. Where men are men and African American men are reduced to fighting animals to survive. Reading this profound tome again, I have renewed my faith as well as my fright of human behavior. An excellent book to read, share and remember. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Seduction; Author: Visit Amazon's Jackie Collins Page; Review: Jackie Collins has brought us her 20th book with a rollicking romp revolving around three womens lives, culminating in a frenzied Las Vegas boxing scenario. In "Lethal Seduction", we meet Madison, Jamie, and a most abnoxious mafia witch, Rosarita. These women do not live their lives through men, but, if the right one comes along, hang on for the ride. We are even treated to a re-visit from rock star Phoenix. I have always enjoyed Ms. Collins books. And laugh when I remember her saying she first started "selling" her writing by devulging her own scampy diaries! For pure fun....guessing who these characters might be in Hollywood, eroticism....a hilarious public sex scene, and relaxing suspense.... how does one knock off a mafia husband? Inject yourself with "Lethal". Thanks--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nailed by the Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: The title caught my attention. The plot rather intrigued me. However, Simon Clark's debut left me numb and nauseous. Not from the horror. From his overly descriptive clumbsy writing, (how many ways should one describe clouds?), repetitive cliches, and lack of control of leading the reader to emotional curiosty. In "Nailed By The Heart" we meet a family that buys a seafort in England. A village of weird characters. And the Saf Dar. A supposed religious group of horrific murderers. Half way through the book I found myself saying, "Ok, get on with it already!" and skipped to the last chapter. It was as if I had not missed a thing. The conclusion is sappy. And unfortunately, I just cannot recommend this book. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Running Blind; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Author Lee Childs brings back the invincible ex-MP, Jack Reacher. This time, could he be the serial killer the FBI is after? Could he be the maniac that leaves dead bodies smeared with camoflauge paint in their own bathtubs? In, "Running Blind", we are privy to an edgy laser paced thriller. After some shennanigans from the government with Jack's galpal, he willingly searches for a killer who leaves no clues. Jack begins with a few common threads; all of the victims brought gritty sexual charges against their military superiors, all won their cases, all then resigned, and then they were all found dead in their own bathtubs. I do not want to take up too much of your time with this review...when you can be engrossed in this blazing blitz of a book on your own! other reading suggestions: "Messiah" by Boris Starling and "The Empty Chair" by Jeffrey Deaver Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mayday; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Block Page; Review: Ever suspect some underhanded cover ups by our own military and government? Ever think that TWA 800 out of NY was part of some ghastly hush-hush job by higher ups? DeMille urges us to believe anything is possible. He and co-author Tom Block are right on target in this updated and re-released disaster novel. In "Mayday", we meet John Berry, a survior of an errant missle blasted Straton Flight 52. He is a private pilot and takes on the responsibilty of landing this flying coffin. The dead and brain damaged souls aboard are grahically depicted as decompression at 66,000 feet would dictate. I am an avid DeMille fan and have been working my way through all of his books since "The Lions Game". DeMilles talent for drawing us in with smooth dialouge, taut as tight-rope riveting action, and dabs of comic or romantic relief with his well defined characters makes him one of my favorite authors. I could go on and on about this laser paced read. However, I'll let you find your own copy. Simply put..."Mayday" is to the sky what "Jaws" is to the sea. Thanks for your interest in my comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Probable Cause; Author: Visit Amazon's Ridley Pearson Page; Review: As with most authors I become enamoured with, Ridley Pearson's top notch crime writing has led me back to some of his earlier works. This one is a definite winner. In "Probable Cause" we meet James Dewitt. He is on the prowl for a serial killer who stretches out a nasty string of murders. One catch. This psychopath makes them all look like suicides. Using the fewest of clues, Dewitt begins his relentless search. Add to the mix a re-birth of happenings Dewitt would rather forget and we also see a man striving to save his reputation, as well as possibly his own life. A well written criminal thrill read. other reading suggestions: "Messiah" by Boris Starling, "Mayday" by Nelson DeMille, and "Running Blind" by Lee Childs Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Long Road Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: For inspirational words of hopes and desires, noone out there does it as prolifically in fiction as Ms. Steele. In, "The Long Road Home", readers are witness to a profound story of victory of the human spirit. We meet Gabbie Harrison at a young age and follow her harrowing journey from vile physical child abuse by her wealthy mother, irritating ignorance from her father, and a 10 year old girl who is then totally abandoned into the hands of a strict yet loving Mother Superior. It is here at St. Matthews Gabbie meets Father Joe Connors. Going against all they know to be immoral, a relationship of impossibilities flowers. Only to be gnarled into deep emotional desperation. Gabbie's long road home takes her then to New York, to be on her own, to her writing, to more disappointment and despair. How she survives and conquers is a lesson in forgiveness and fortitude we can all learn from. A well written story that moves quickly. I highly recommend this insightful read. Thanks for your interest & comments-CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott; Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Nimmo Page; Review: Where do I begin to share my thoughts after reading this most profound tome by Rachel's loving parents and friends? How do I even attempt to feel their loss? And, how, how do I keep my two teenage sons safe? While taking in "Rachel's Tears" I cried, I smiled, I celebrated this young womans fiercely guided life. As I read her journal entries, gazed upon her sketches, an unanswerable question persisted, "why"? Why would two evil boys do what they did at Columbine in 1999? And if it affects me, a total stranger, as a wrecking ball smashing solidly and squarely into an impenatrable fortress.....how, oh how do they go on? Tonight we watched 20/20 on T.V. and witnessed some of what they have gone through. We watched as a family. We cried as a family. And we prayed as a family. We all have certain burdens to bear. Rachel's life was short, but her families memories, their dedication to God, their inner strength will forever remind me not to complain but to sustain. A powerful read. May God bless and guide us all. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Point of Origin (Unabridged); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page; Review: Ms. Cornwell brings us her 9th thriller featuring ME Dr. Kay Scarpetta. In "Point Of Origin", there are several plots twisting and turning the reader. Sick psycho Carrie returns from "Body Farm" to threaten Kay and retired FBI boyfriend Benton Wesley. Add a special assignment from the government, to now help forensically in the case of a burnt to the ground horse farm...including a body, and Dr. Kay has her hands full. I enjoyed this book. However, at times I felt the scenes were perhaps overwritten, clogging down the penned rich rhythms we are accustomed to. Or, maybe there was just TOO much going on.....rather dizzying, like several kittens bouncing about with frazzled balls of colorful yarn. Ms. Cornwell apparently was getting EVERYTHING in to complete this series. And for Scarpetta fans, there are some sad endings besides the series. Still a classic Cornwell chiller. Thanks for your interests & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sparks Page; Review: Nicholas Sparks' bailiwick is tender, tear-jerking tomes. And there is nothing wrong with that. Enjoying "Message In A Bottle" led me to this short and sweet love story. In this novel, we meet Noah Calhoun. A rugged scamp of a man who is still yearning for the past love of his life. Allie Nelson is now a socialite engaged to a wealthy attorney. Alas, she also craves her long ago romance with the boy that took her breath away. Sparks does a complete job of making a twist on an old plotline. Including conundrum victories and glimpses into aging human behavior. As I was pulled into these characters lives, the haunting song "Where've You Been" by Kathy Mattea, kept whirlpooling in my mind. So, if you are in the mood for action adventure, look elsewhere. If you want a simple, sweet, enduring love story.....grab your hankie and indulge. other reading suggestions: "The Last Valentine" by James Pratt Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dark House: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Sedgwick Page; Review: Welcome another new author to the suspense game--John Sedgwick. His debut psychological thriller, "The Dark House", just may be a bright light on a future best sellers list horizon. If the old adage is true, write about what you know, the celebrity Sedgwick family may be more dysfunctional than we know. "Don't you ever wonder about them--the people around you?"...asks our central character, Edward Rollins. This curiosity becomes an obsession as Rollins discovers a hobby. He likes to follow people at night in his car. One particular evening he randomnly chooses an Audi, and plays his game of recording everything the wiry, salesman-type driver does as they weave their way to northern Boston. "...it was a kind of dance Rollins supposed. A dance with a shadow." Only this time, the shadow just may be the man in the Audi. The narrative continues delving into deep family secrets of a disappearing heiress, new relationships with one of Rollins co-workers, attractive Marj Simmons, and puzzle pieces of Rollins life that when brought together just may release him from his own life of self-imposed despair. I enjoyed this compelling tale of suspense and romance. Add in obsession, greed, and glimspes into human behavior and you have a finely crafted first novel. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black and Blue; Author: Visit Amazon's Anna Quindlen Page; Review: In "Black and Blue", Anna Quindlen has put a daring face on ultimate real life terror. In one opening line, "The first time my husband hit me I was 19 years old", we are swept into a seductive, violent, tense world. I was engrossed by this woeful tale. Yet, I found myself frowning most of the time. Lines forming on my face from a bit of bogged down writing, but mainly from the subject matter. I prefer to read more escapism, but once in a while I need to slap my reality senses into order. A good read, especially in the beginning. If it helps one woman escape this sort of brutality, Ms. Quindlen has done her job well. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Belladonna; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Moline Page; Review: The cover caught my attention--red ruby lips and the blurb--"A Novel of Revenge". And that is exactly what Karen Moline delivers. No, it's not "War & Peace". More like a weaving seductive sampler of good little girl goes bad. In 1935, a naive midwestern girl, Isabella Ariel Nickerson, visits London. Her invitation to a grand party with the elite did not mention her capture and entrance to a secret world of sexual slavery. Delving deeply into Domination and submission, Isabella learns well. She returns to New York as a dazzling, not so naive, "Belladonna". And vows to have her own way with her captors from England. Some of this novel is slow, bogged down in details and dialougue. But, "Belladonna" is a passionate kinky poison treat of a read. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black & Blue (BookShots); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: In "Black and Blue", Anna Quindlen has put a daring face on ultimate real life terror. In one opening line, "The first time my husband hit me I was 19 years old", we are swept into a seductive, violent, tense world. I was engrossed by this woeful tale. Yet, I found myself frowning most of the time. Lines forming on my face from a bit of bogged down writing, but mainly from the subject matter. I prefer to read more escapism, but once in a while I need to slap my reality senses into order. A good read, especially in the beginning. If it helps one woman escape this sort of brutality, Ms. Quindlen has done her job well. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson; Author: Visit Amazon's Mitch Albom Page; Review: I have read this insightful real life story several times. After 144 weeks on the NY Times Bestseller list, it has made #1 this week. And I imagine Morrie is up there smiling as he whispers..."When you get to this point...and you will..." One of his favorite ways of relaying inspirational advice to live by. Mitch Albom, a sports writer, has penned a simplistically heartfelt book about rediscovering his college mentor. After 20 years he happens to see Morrie on "Nightline" speaking of his dying. His bouts with Lou Gerhigs disease. With only one visit in mind, Mitch ends up visiting every Tuesday until Morrie's eventual death. To me, this is a get back to basics life survival manual. Reminding us all "death ends a life, not a realtionship". Be good to those around you now, let the little things go. And grow, continue to grow. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Irresistible (Conrad Voort Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Ethan Black Page; Review: You're in swanky Manhattan. Everyone is sweltering through New York City's worst heat wave in 12 years. What could be worse? Hmmm....how about a seductive female serial killer? Is that her reflection as you peer into Balducci's pastry laden window? Is that her smiling provocatively as you jog along in pools of sweat through Central Park? In "Irresistible", we meet Nora Clay, a revenge ladened woman who is out to get her men. Literally. Almost as a spider weaves a web, snares its prey then devours it, Nora has her list of victims and prepares her killing webs. Which just may include NYPD's sex crimes investigator, Conrad Voort. I liked this thriller. About time women took their place in the serial killing genre, not just solving. Author Ethan Black intricately weaves a fashionable hot hot deadly plot. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: James Taylor: Greatest Hits- Complete Solos, Authentic Guitar-Tab Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's James Taylor Page; Review: James Taylor, now 52, is the ultimate baby boomer. A survivor of heroin addiction, divorces, and success...it's all shared, there in his music. After seeing him interviewd on "Sunday Morning" yesterday, I went out and added this memory maker to my growing collection of compilation CD's. There may be other hits on other CD's but this group has had me smiling for hours. From "Carolina In My Mind" to "Fire and Rain" to the lullaby "Sweet Baby James"....every song brought back shimmering memories. As James evoked in his speaking, I too want to strive to "make time to keep life simple, sweet, and lyrical"--just like his music. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1) (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Janet Evanovich's debut into the mystery genre is a fanciful flight of refreshing riff-raff. I resisted long enough what I thought would be a piece of fluff. This woman can create more comedic havoc with charming central character, Stephanie Plum, than a bunch of senior citizens hustling & nudging each other to get into a cafeteria's early bird special. In "One For The Money", New Jersey native, Stephanie, desperately needs money. So desperate, she worms her way to be a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie. Having no clue as to what she is doing, we readers laugh our way through her antics of bringing back Joe. Add some suspense, classically vivid characters and we get a delicious, deceitful, diabolical plot. Do not wait as I did on "Money"--buy into Evanovich now. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winter Prey; Author: Visit Amazon's John Sandford Page; Review: ...In, "Winter Prey", John Sanders 5th thriller in the Prey series, we are set in frozen Wisconsin. And there is a killer on the prowl. Lucas Davenport is at his nearby vacation home and is asked to help. With 60 people out of the little towns 4,000 residents being on the police or government payroll, someone knows something! A twisting plot, glimpses into very sick minds, themes of pedophilia, homosexuality, and Lucas himself, gives us a solid chiller thriller. Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before I Say Good-Bye; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Higgins Clark Page; Review: Ms. Clark delivers her 22nd romantic thriller with an extra twist of psychic powers. In "Before I Say Good-Bye", we meet 32 year old Nell Mac Dermott. A woman of grand NY political heritage. After a marital squabble which left Nell telling her husband, Adam Cauliff, to just not come home--he doesn't. Amidst corruption rumors surrounding Adam, he and his associates are killed in an horrific boat explosion. Nell will not let this just be an "accident". She uses a gift she had almost forgotten she had. A gift of speaking to the departed. A gift that helped her say goodbye to her parents who were killed in a plane crash in Brazil when she was 10 years old. Mary Higgins Clark recently inked a deal worth 64 million dollars for four more suspense novels and one book of her memoirs. Her raw talent tempered by writing classes has definitely paid off for her and to her many readers. A Clark classic. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Florida's Birds: A Handbook and Reference; Author: Visit Amazon's Herbert W. Kale II Page; Review: Living on the water in Florida has its ups and downs. Not just the waves, or the pesky 'lil noseeum bugs. But, glorious birds! This reference guide is handy and entertaining. "Florida's Birds--A Handbook and Reference" is a product of many years of preperation. Covering over 325 species which are identified and discussed with information on distinguishing marks, habitat, seasons, and even distinctive calls. The cross referencing and colorful pictures add to the wonder of spotting a Double Crested Cormorant to the deafening wail of the Black Crowned Night Heron. A good edition for your reference collections. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Open House; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Berg Page; Review: I have to actually giggle as I think back to one of the funniest scenes revolving around human behavior I have ever read. The Thanksgiving scene in "Open House" is truly unforgettable. Ms. Berg brings to life, Sam, in a most unique witty way. We follow her adventures of lost love, re-gained self-esteem, terrorizing teens as if it is happening to us. In fact, I think that is the whole point of this book--weird stuff happens, deal with it. A fun, psych of a book. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile: Coffey's Hands; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Can you imagine melding a little furry mouse, a huge hulking beast of a man, into a wonderfully woven magical tale, and your name is NOT "Disney"? I couldn't. However, super-natural master author, Stephen King, has a gift unsurpassed by few if any among modern day writers. His gift brings us this mysterious story of a man, John Coffey, who is wrongly imprisoned for the hideous murders of two small girls. Coffey is on deathrow, back in the 1930's. He has a "gift" too. And when the guards learn of this, they use this wonderfully strange force in miraculous ways. By now, most know the entire plot from either this book comprised of 6 novellas or from the hit movie. Either way, "The Green Mile" is rich, textural, heart-wrenching and just makes us want to protect all beasts, large and small. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snow Falling on Cedars; Author: Visit Amazon's David Guterson Page; Review: Author David Guterson was distinguished with the 1995 PEN/Faulkner Award for a very good reason. He penned a heart-wrenching novel which covers many themes, some of which, we as Americans, do not wish to revisit. I was drawn into this tale of murder and illicit romance with richly connected characters. My senses soared as each rhythmically inked phrase put me right there, on a remote island in Pugent Sound, smelling the sea, hearing whispers of love, harsh courtroom tones, and seeing, actually seeing ones warm breath escaping into small puffs of greying fog under falling teardrops of snow. As the central character, Ishmael Chambers, remembers in vivid detail the early 1950's murder trial he covered as a newspaper writer. He was once the childhood sweetheart to Hatsue, the accused murderers delicate wife. Evidenciary discoveries place Ishmael in quite a conundrum--do I say what I know or do I at long last claim my love? This is not an action adventure book. This is a novel of murder, law, deep romantic meanings, WWII historical racial prejudices, and above all else; right from wrong. A searing portrayal of visuality and human behavior. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Small Vices (Spenser Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert B. Parker Page; Review: After more than 20 crime novels, Robert Parker can still pique my interest. And twenty of almost anything usually equates to a snore. Not so here. In "Small Vices", we revisit one of the best known ensembles of the genre; sexy invincible Spenser, seductively naive Susan, and without a doubt, the intimidating irrepressible Hawk. We also meet "The Gray Man", who wishes to put Spenser into an earlier grave than anyone, including the self-effacing Spenser, desires. Add a friend asking for Spensers help in his framing of a murder of a young female college student, the search of suspects through Boston to the elite Manhattan crowd, and voila, another gritty up front Parker crime action in full motion. The dialouge snaps, the plot crackles, and the .22 pops. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Girl, Interrupted (Faber and Faber Screenplays); Author: Visit Amazon's James Mangold Page; Review: As with most movies, there is a good book lurking somewhere in its past. And "Girl, Interrupted", is no exception. Author and central character of this mesmerizing memoir, Susanna Kaysen, gives us a well defined exacting profile of near madness. Tweny-five years after placing herself under the watchful eyes of her "keepers" at Mc Lean Hospital for psychiatric treatment, Kaysen reveals her two year stay in the teenage ward back in the late 60's. A time itself of diagnosed disturbance. Richly portrayed characterzations of her fellow "inmates" and their doctors vividly depict everything from suicide, medications, the meaning of a crazed life, and harrowing journies to recovery. I truly enjoyed this 168 page book. Possibly more so due to the fact that I, myself, can say--"been there, done that, bought the T-shirt." And agree, the interruption is not my life, it just may be those mannerless people around me. Thank you for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Booked for Murder (Lindsay Gordon Mystery Series); Author: Val Mcdermid; Review: In Ms. McDermid's 5th mystery in this series, we follow gritty Lindsay Gordon crossing the pond back to London. She is insnared in a diabolical murder. Only 3 people know of Lindsay's own unfinshed novel, which includes a devilish death of a character by a freakish "accident"--an exploding bottle of wheat beer. And when a good friend, Penny, is killed the exact same way--something is now definitely very personal. I enjoyed this weaving intricate plot. The authoress has a way of expressing lesbian lifestyles without encroaching upon heterosexuals a preachy style that is evident in some books revolving around gays. A gritty mysterious read with lively charcters. other reading suggestions: "The Front Runner" by Patricia Nell Warren Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manhattan Is My Beat; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffery Deaver Page; Review: Suppose you were a 20 year old sparkplug of a gal, living in a loft in NYC, writing poetry, working in a video store, and one of your eccentric customers was murdered--would you just say what a shame? Or jump right in to solve a terrifyling twist of a tale based on an old black & white film? In, "Manhattan Is My Beat", Deaver delivers a fast paced dangerous thriller. We meet Rune, she is as lively as a cocked pistol. She does work in a video store to support one of her passions; movies. She does find the dead body of Mr. Kelly, an elderly man who keeps renting the same movie--over & over. And she does hit the Manhattan mean streets to connect all the pieces of this diabolical puzzle plot. I thouroughly enjoyed this crime novel. Rune, as a female sleuth is perky, weird, sassy and bright. Not as graphic or gripping as other Deaver classics, yet a good one. other reading suggestions: "Hot Six" by Janet Evanovich and "The Devils Teardrop" by Jeffrey Deaver Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Millionaire : The Philanderer, Gambler, and Duelist Who Invented Modern Finance; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Gleeson Page; Review: Janet Gleason has delivered a sensual book about money. And what better mix is there than that? I'll buy a block of Yahoo on a dip and dip into a private office for some fun. Seriously, "Millionaire: The Philanderer, Gambler, and Duelist Who Invented Modern Finance" is a suberb glimpse into the life of John Law. A man from the 17th Century with a head for math, cards, women, and danger. This is an entertaining read of a usually dry topic. I had never heard of the infamous "Mississippi Bubble". A land investment scheme regarding development for the French territories. Making the run of the Bulls in Pamplona a snap compared to the Bull Market & crash Law helped create. A fun business book--Gordon Grecko would be proud. Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up to No Good: The Rascally Things Boys Do; Author: Kitty Harman; Review: "Up To No Good" is a perfect book to give to your own sons! My two teens laughed as I read some of the stories to them. Of course they tried to act like tuff guys....but, looking at the pix just rolled those laughs right out of them. Especially the pig! And as a mom, I feel a huge sigh of releif. Maybe my guys too will be "good men" & can look back on some of their pranks that I take too seriously. Good clean fun with the interesting photos to prove it. Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hot Six; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: As I wrote in my review of Evanovich's 1st book in this hilarious mystery series, "One For The Money", this woman can create more comedic havoc than senior citizens bumping & nudging their way into some small restaurant, making sure they get that early bird meat loaf special. And that goes for the authoress as well as our New Jersey heroine, Stephanie Plum. Sue Graff has the "alphabet"--Ms. Evanovich has the "numbers". These are fast paced, easy to read, fun mysteries with a cast of characters we feel right at home with. Stephanie is still having car problems. ( AAA's nightmare member) I was laughing so hard when she had to use a "Rollswagon"--yep, half VW, half Rolls Royce. Add a new bounding dog, Bob, who has bad hair days, a whacky maniac Munson who keeps attacking Stephanie with fire, aimed moving vehicles, tire irons--as she tries to bring him in for skipping bail and --whew--let me catch my fingers here-- I think I am TYPERventilating. Any ole hoo, smoldering Ranger is in trouble this time. Crime family Ramos has set him up and plucky Stephanie Plum is there for him--in any way he wishes! You know, I'm thinking this series would work on T.V. And I see Fran Drescher (of "The Nanny" fame) as our lovingly manic Stephanie Plum. The jacket cover is as wild & hot as Evanovich's plots. Great fun reading. Thanks for your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dust to Dust: A Novel (Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska); Author: Visit Amazon's Tami Hoag Page; Review: Recently reading "Winter Prey" by John Sanford, I was geographically comfortable returning to Minnesota for Tami Hoag's break-neck paced new thriller, "Dust To Dust". And am curious, do these authors know something we should be aware of? Is there something up there besides the Vikings to evoke such horrifically fascinating plots? "Intense" is an understatement for this perfect blend of crime, mystery, judicial proceedure, and serial killer genres. Solid as ice Detective Sam Kovac and partner, sassy wise-cracking Nikki Liska, from "Ashes To Ashes" are back. This time, these two hard-edged cops put their lives and careers on the line while involved in a potential suicide of an officer from Internal Affairs, Andy Fallon. Andy was gay. Andy told his infamous father "Iron Mike Fallon" he was gay. And Andy was found hanging in front of a mirror smeared with two words--I'm Sorry. Super sleuthing divulges secret cases from the past, Police Department hush-hush cover-ups, a retiring Captain Ace Wyatt who just might be more than Hollywood bound, another recent murder of a gay police officer, and deep delving into family issues. This suspenseful serpentine of a novel is chillingly compelling. Ms. Hoag has reached a high plateau of delivering her readers elborately characterized, finely crafted , "dab-your-thumb-to-your-tongue" page turning blood-curdlers. other reading suggestions: "The Devils Teardrop" by Jeffrey Deaver and "The Woman Who Rode To The Moon: A Cordelia Morgan Mystery" by Bett Reece Johnson I appreciate your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Maiden's Grave; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffery Deaver Page; Review: Jeffrey Deaver is well recognized for his visciously violent mind. And the ability to dig deep from within and transfer those thoughts to paper has been rewarded with two Edgar nominations. I just read the Amazon review he did with Barrie, and am anticipating his computer thriller presently being molded. As he stated, "Noone will ever go on-line again after reading this one". In, "A Maiden's Grave", eight deaf girls and their teacher are pulled off a school bus along a wheatlined Kansas road. They are held hostage in an abandoned slaughterhouse by escaped murderer, Lou Handy, and two fellow inmates. The threat--to kill one hostage an hour unless demands are met. Enter Arthur Potter, the FBI's senior hostage negotiator. Killer Lou Handy may just be Potter's downfall. This book moves like an out of control train. Of course with Mr. Deaver, you never know where those solid serpentine tracks will take you. Tick-tock Tick-tock--do not miss this emotional crime novel. other reading suggestions: "The Devils Teardrop" by Jeffrey Deaver and "The Lions Game" by Nelson DeMille I appreciate your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherry Sontag Page; Review: My oldest brother, who is an avid reader, reviewer, and ex-Navy subber, sent me a copy of this searing book, with a brief note--"for REAL espionage, read more non-fiction!" So, I acquiesced to his well placed gauntlet. "Blind Man's Bluff" was riveting. Stories of secret missions by brave Naval men in diving tombs held me spellbound. One of my favorites was about "Operation Jennifer"--Billionaire Howard Hughes' involvement with Bradley, the CIA, and the digging beneath the waves for the Halibut. Another was the frightful fight for the sunken Scorpio, all hands lost. To this day Russian and American families ask themselves, was the secret submarine war worth the risks? Worth the costs? Authors Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew's years of research has paid off. The indexing is superb for quick looks at certain areas or famous people. The note section is an added plus for chapter information. Included black and white photos put faces to this myriad of heroes and villains. Thank you to my brother, heartfelt salutes to the men and women who protect us. This is an intriguing account of submarine cat and mouse. I appreciate your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Brethren; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: When this John Grisham book first came out--I panned it. As I was telling people about the plot, I kept hearing remarks, "well that sounds interesting to me". Hmmmm.....So, I re-read "The Brethren", pretending I did not know who the author was. And you know what? I liked it. Ok, it's not the best legal thriller. However, if one supposes that three irreverant Judges are in prison and from behind bars they scheme to blackmail affluent people vis a vis a gay boy pen pal scam by personal ads, they realize they have marked a guy that eventually is picked to BE the next President of the U.S. and you do get quite a unique plot. We get an inside look into minimum-security penitentiaries, holy rolling corrupt politics, shark infested attorney waters, and a fast fun read from John Grisham. Try it again, just cover the authors name, revisit some lively characters and at closer look--a flap jack flipping genius of a plot. I appreciate your interest & comments--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Alibi (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: What Dom Perniongne is to champagne...Sandra Brown is to cleverly mixed romance and mystery. In "The Alibi", we are set in charming Charleston. Land of manners, mansions, & sometimes murder. Meet Hammond Cross, ambitious macho prosecuter, and Alex Ladd, mysterious femininely wily suspect. Their relationship is as a see-saw, bouncing up and down, as the authoress elaborately weaves tales of murder, lust, and political mayhem. And as on a see-saw, a balance of sorts is always found. Well described, alive with characters, and delving details. Snuggle up & bubble with Brown. other reading suggestions: "Exclusive" by Sandra Brown and "Belladonna" by Karen Moline Thanks for your interest & comment vote--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The House On Hope Street; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: Ok, this is her 49th bestseller, however, Ms. Steele seems to stall a bit, sort of like a boat motor sputtering it's last gasps. Don't get me wrong, I like this prolific authoress. And she has attempted to stretchhhhhhhh herself with the personal story of her deceased son and the psuedo-comedy "The Clone And I". Yet, as others have mentioned--this is another *plug & play* book. Plop in a married couple with children, something horrific happens, one mate, usually the female, is left to conquer all. Just change the names & places--it all turns out well. I much prefer when Steele has more research, history, & involvement in her tomes. Such as "The Ghost" (see my review). If you are new to her writing, this is a good book to start with, but go back to some of her older ones for more in depth stories of pride, courage, romance & of course--hope. other reading suggestions: "Exclusive" by Sandra Brown, "The Long Road Home" by Danielle Steel, and "The Last Valentine" by James Pratt (see my reviews of all of the above) Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ashes to Ashes; Author: Tami Hoag; Review: Ever walk through a park alone late at night? Feel the eeriness creep inward? Shadows shaping into sinister sights? Each innocent noise becoming louder as you race to find your escape? In "Ashes To Ashes", Ms. Hoag begins her bloodcurdler best seller with a displaced teen, walking through such a park, and witnessing the burning of a body by a serial killer. Caution, this novel is EXTREMELY graphic. "I saw him through the flames", Angie whispers to Kate Conlan, a victim's advocate. Yet, a full description cannot be bought or pulled out of this troubled teen. Kate has her hands full, with Angie, her own demons, political mayhem within her own career and with a lost love, FBI profiler extrordinaire--handsomely rugged, John Quinn. After some snappy dialouge and bantering, these two team up to solve the case of what the press is calling this disturbed killer--"The Cremator". The insiders refer to him as "Smoky Joe". Either way, this is one psycho you just know his mother skipped the usual parental advice--do not run with scissors and do not play with matches! I have watched Ms. Hoag rise from a simplistic romance writer to a diva in the bloodcurdling thriller genre. Elaborately woven characters, plots, sub-plots, and yes, even graphic details of the murders make "Ashes To Ashes" ascend. A staggeringly good book of disturbing violence mixed with romance and dabs of humor. other reading suggestions: "A Maidens Grave" by Jeffrey Deaver, "The Woman Who Rode To The Moon" by Bett Reece Johnson, and "Messiah" by Boris Starling Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Talking about Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child; Author: Visit Amazon's Earl A. Grollman Page; Review: Talking about death of loved ones, even a family pet, with my two teen boys has been difficult. This inspiring book has been a catharsis for them--and for me. The third edition, from the early '90's, still evokes the child in all of us. Sometimes, simple gets the point across easier. Using a manner of a friendly family Doctor or confidant, Earl Grollman writes about how to cope with the grief, the anger, the hopelessness of it all. Death is never easy--especially if there were unresolved issues. Illustrations and ideas seem to work for adults as well as the younger set. We find "remembering aloud" our best moments with those we have lost in the last few years to be of great importance in an ongoing healing process. Vocalizing to each other our rememberances brings on a gush of needed tears, shadowed smiles and sometimes loving laughs. "Talking About Death" helps heal the child in all of us. I highly recommend this book for those grieving and those that wish to know what to say or do for those you know in this situation. Thanks--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Five Days in Paris; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: I really really like Danielle Steel. Or, rather I used to. She is to the romance genre what John Grisham is becoming to the legal-beagle world. The title , "Five Days In Paris" was provocative. However the content is just too similar to every other Steel sing songy recent book. The plot could have been so much more developed. A bomb scare, two people from America in Paris and they meet. And most know the rest. I must admit, I should have spent the 5 hours NOT reading this mundane novel. Shopping for lug nuts would have been better time management! Hopefully Ms. Steele will get some--steel & attempt to put a little more grit in her books. Right now she reminds me of a guy dating mother goose! other reading suggestions: "The Ghost" by Danielle Steel, "Exclusive" by Sandra Brown, and "Ashes To Ashes" by Tami Hoag I appreciate your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions from White Elephants to a Song & Dance; Author: Charles Earle Funk; Review: Oh Horsefeathers! Get the word out! This book is over 900 pages of entertaining trivia of cliches, word origins, historic events, classical literature, and even frontier humor plus MORE! Author, Charles Earie Funk, (yes of Funk & Wagnalls fame) has included four previous bestselling titles, "A Hog On Ice", "Thereby Hangs", "A Tale", "Heavens To Betsy", and "Horsefeathers". I always enjoy referring back to this fun book. It also makes for a good ice-breaker at a party or even a family gathering. Want to distract pinch-cheeking Auntie Rose? Let her have a gander at "2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions". Warning--once you start thumbing through this, you'll be speaking in cliches for days! Superb educational fun for all ages. -CDS-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Place Called Peculiar: Stories About Unusual American Place-Names; Author: Visit Amazon's Frank K. Gallant Page; Review: This great paperback book is full of hillarious stories about silly named cities in our United States. The cover alone lets you know what you are in for: History Marker stating " While Bloody Battles Raged Throughout The Southern States--Nothing Happened Here----Peculiar. M.O.". We took this along with us on a summer family drive. I kept hearing, "Hun, look, we are SO close to Climax--Georgia that is" or "Mom, wooo, look! Double Trouble is only 500 miles away!" The personally researched stories which author Frank Gallant included, were passed around and read aloud. This was almost better than the alphabet game for passing those hours on a road trip. Notes on uncommon attractions, such as a UFO museum and , my gawd, the worlds largest landfill, only added to the fun. The illustrations are fine, yet not really needed. Oh, still looking for Nirvana? It's in Michigan along with Hell! A fun & educational book for all ages. Thank you for your unterest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Ghetto: The Psychology of Affluence; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessie H. O'Neill Page; Review: Feel mad when your numbers do not pop in a multi-million dollar lottery? Shredding the ticket to bits like an overdue bill. Does envy creep through your gut while glimpsing that cherry red Porsche purring effortlessly by your 8 year old Toyota? Rationalizing, well, at least yours is paid for. Well, don't. In "The Golden Ghetto", we get shocking glimpses into lives of some of the rich and famous which were left on the cutting room floor with Robin Leach. Apparently it is not all champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Authoress, Jessie H. O'Neill, knows of what she writes. Her father was a workaholic with no time for his family. Resulting in a common money disease referred to as affluenza. The disease of money. Can you imagine? Wealth CAN be a disease causing specific dysfunctions of those feeling entitlement, it is theirs for the asking, not earning, coveting the guilt that lies therein. In this book, which is provocatively written, we become privy to Ms. O'Neill's personal story. She is the grandaughter to Charles Wilson. I had never heard of him and was surprised to learn he was past president of General Motors and served as Secretary of State to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The manner in which she reveals family secrets of disorders--alcoholism, drug abuse, manic-depression, suicides, lack of fulfillment leading to wanton irresponsible behavior, makes the Kennedy family look *curse*-less. As I read her story and others she divuldged, newsworthy names began to surface. Kurt Cobain, Elvis, JFK, Jr., Princess Diana, Freddie Prinze, Sonny Bono, Hugh Grant, Boy George--such odd behaviors and risks from people we seem to think, have or had it all. How could they be unhappy? How could they take such risks? The very fact that today we have almost one new millionaire every 63 seconds--usually due to tech stocks and or options. And, the written information regarding lottery winners and their usual fall from grace within a years time of sudden wealth, makes this well written book extremely timely. I enjoyed this psychological profile of a disease which has no immunization. It does have a cure. Possibly why the authoress is a therapist herself. Highly recommended for medical or feel better "I am not rich" reading. --CDS--; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Majesty of the French Quarter, The (Majesty Architecture); Author: Visit Amazon's Kerri McCaffety Page; Review: Oui, let the good times roll. Top ten reviewer's, Mr. Mitchell's, suberb glimpse through his words sold me on this fascinating book. Anticipating arrival from Amazon was like licking my lips for a taste of cafe au lait and sugary beignets from Cafe De Monde. New Orleans or N'Awlnsss as some say, is one grande damme of a city, one of my favorites. History, vibrant colors, music, food, the naughty and the mannerly--I can never get enough. We spent New Years Eve there cruising our favorite haunts and finding new ones. This book by Kerri McCaffety shows mostly the hidden New Orleans. Unique furnishings, paintings, gardens and secretive views from galleries or balconies. One can almost feel Jean Lafitte, the pirate, stare through you as you dare to cross Pirates Row behind the most photograhed church in the country, St. Louis Cathederal in Jackson Square. One of my very favorite photos is one of the first, a frosty icicle adorned tropical courtyard--a true testament to contrasting Crescent City. Another is the dreamscaped dome in a three story townhouse. Harrah's in NO, has almost captured that feeling in their Jazz Bar. The only thing I wish, is that there were more photos of , well, the rollicking side to this humming city on the Mississippi. There are a few great shots of Mardi Gras, Bourbon street, Cafe De Monde and the French Market. But I want more! Again, thank you to Don Mitchell for reviewing so well. I found a true treasure in "The Majesty of the French Quarter". Merci for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Empire State Building (Building America); Author: Visit Amazon's Craig A. Doherty Page; Review: I like architecture. I like buildings. And I adore The Empire State building in New York City. (as if I need to mention location) This is an informative book by Mr. Doherty and others giving us a detailed view into dreams coming to life of the then tallest building in the world. How it was built, human drama behind the scenes, how fast it went up---4 stories a week, the limestone that was only brought in from Indiana, and other fascinating information. With a glossary, index, photo's of helmeted men in 1930---daringly straddling beams above a floor of cement doom, one can relive visiting this icon or enjoy true anticipation of using one of its 73 elevators to reach for the heavens on an open aired viewing floor where everything from weddings to arm wrestling competitions take place. Did you know they began using outdoor lights due to an aircraft bomber, lost in the fog and crashing into her 79th floor back in the 40's? And now, one can see it adorned with special lit colors--Blue was done as a tribute to Frank Sinatra, Blue & White for Churchill, and Gold for the Pope. Yes, the building that may now not be the tallest, will forever hold a special place in our hearts. As seen in many movies, from King Kong to Sleepless In Seattle, we can step back and wonder who is behind those 6,000 windows ( you might spot Donald Trump, he owns part of her now ) and wistfully sigh at the romance of it all. other reading suggestions: "The Majesty of the French Quarter" by Kerri McCaffety --CDS--; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Passion; Author: Visit Amazon's Jayne Ann Krentz Page; Review: Award winning authoress Jayne Ann Krentz, who also is known by Amanda Quick for her historical romance novels, gives us exactly what this title indicates--grand passion. Flavoring her settings with descriptive tones of wealth and art add to Cleopatra Robbins (the central character)sensual and suspenseful predicament with handsome yet snobbish Max Fortune. I especially enjoyed scenes involving "The Mirror"--a book which Cleo is writing that unmasks her hidden desires of erotica. And, you just know Max will buy into that, along with attempting to discover hidden art treasures. A fun, well written book which even authoress Sandra Brown commented, "Grand Passion is Krentz at her best...with the snappy dialouge that has become her trademark and a cast of characters you want to know personally." Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Horses Don't Fly: A Memoir of World War I; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Libby Page; Review: Since my brother noticed my review on the last book he sent me, a true story of submarine espionage during The Cold War, "Blind Mans Bluff", I guess he figured to warm up my library with another real life adventure--"Horses Don't Fly". As I opened his package, I admit, I sighed. However, this book is enthralling and compelling as any fictional novel I have ever read. Frederick Libby wrote his impactful memoir in 1961. He passed away in 1970. There are so many questions I want to ask him. His marvelous capacity for recalling specific details on his life as first a cow puncher out West to his becoming the first American to down five enemy planes during WWI is fascinating indeed. I truly think of him as being the first Marlboro Man. Not in a negative tobacco way, as a rugged, adventurous, spirited man who can capture your attention as fast as he learned to be a pilot and use a machine gun. Which was one day! Some of my favorite parts of Libby's experiences are during his stand with the Canadian army. Through sensitivity, detail, and even humor, he recreated scenes of comraderie with fellow pilots I shall not soon forget. Friends lost in combat, poignant depictions of wartime London, even playful pranks. Libby was a true hero. With medals to prove it. Yet, his writing reveals he was just a cowboy who learned how to fly. He tangled with the Red Barron and won, but does not flaunt his ego. In this day of techno wars and seeking singular positive influences--this man amazes me. A superb true to life memoir of a flying Ace in WWI. --CDS--; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man Ray, 1890-1976; Author: Visit Amazon's Man Ray Page; Review: Some photograhers see a pose and snap it as a statue. Man Ray envisoned etheral impressions through his works. I discovered this beautiful book of 300 duotone photos at a quaint little shoppe by the University. Don't you just love to happen upon old books unmasking new treasures? Me too. And I will definately be seeking out more regarding Man Ray's career as a commercial artist, photographer, and as a colleague of Marcel Duchamp and the New York Dadaists. These poses, these works of art, through Ray's impeccably searching eyes, have a quality of hallowedness. An American, he had moved to Paris in 1921 and quickly became one of the most celebrated experimentalists of his era. Fascinatingly, he used a simple yet efective innovation of solaraization, which bestowed a ghostly silver aura upon his posers. Just truly remarkable! Classic images of Salvador Dali, Breton, Yves Tanguy, Jean Cocteau, and even Gertrude Stein are among this embodiment. Also his creative assembled objects and a selection of fashion spreads for Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. A truly gorgeous photograpy book to be lost in. Thank you for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: By the Rivers of Babylon: A novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Nelson DeMille Page; Review: Nelson Demille consistently surprises me with his research, knowledge and laser paced action in his books. He just has a way of drawing me in to his characters with their transitional dialouge. I want to know them, care about them, and of course despise horrific villains. And as for action adventures, well, let's just say he moves a plot around like a Chinese acrobat with an inner ear problem! In "By The Rivers of Babylon", we meet an extensive group of characters who begin a journey of peace for the Middleast. Two Concordes take off from Lod airport. A mysterious Lear jet invades their flying space. Not known to the pilots and passengers is the fact that a rebel Palestinian guerilla, Rish , has had bombs planted in the tails of each bird as they were being built a year before. Leading to an exciting kidnapping and forced landing. What I enjoyed the most in this compelling book were the strategies of war. How different eras as well as nations handled nightime invasions for example. And how one must do anything to survive--anything. This seemed to be a pre-cursor to "The Lions Game" by DeMille. Similar themes, however, I was intrigued with the setting of Babylon. The history involved, the colorful descriptions of the Euphrates river, how Mesopatamia had been a glorious city and it's ironic downfall. Highly recommended reading for the adventure lover. Your interest & comment votes are appreciated--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Irresistible Forces; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: Ok, now I know my own limitations and I cannot even write one book, let alone as many as Ms. Steele has. However, in "Irresistible Forces", we get standard Steele fare. One wife, Meredith, an investment banker, married to an up and coming physician, Steven. The plot revolves around Meredith being offered the dream job by Cal Dow--a sneaky, successful character. A bi-coastal marriage turns into maudlin melodrama. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I like Danielle Steel. I prefer her earlier works which have more research and history propelling the story. Such as "The Ghost". other reading suggestions: "The Long Road Home" by Danielle Steel and "Grand Passions" by Jayne Krentz Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Keeping Busy: A Handbook of Activities for Persons with Dementia; Author: Visit Amazon's James R. Dowling Page; Review: Look up dementia in the dictionary: from the Latin; out from the mind, severe mental deficiency or impairment. This can include anything from alzheimer patients to manic-depressives even obsessive-compulsion disorders. There is alot of that going around lately. This activity book attempts to help those in need of finding positive outlets for frustrated energies. A place for a person to remember the good things, let the little things go and strive to move foreward. Lacking was an effective way to work with these type of people. Just listing an activity, such as making a photo album, or writing a journal, still does not cover the enormous amount of patience one must have to direct one of dementia. Most of them are disabled and or retired and need therapy. This workbook alone could not do the trick. It might be of some help to people who must live around the demented. Thus 3 stars, thanks--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Treasure Worth Seeking; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: I like Ms. Brown's works. This is a reprint of a 1992 issue. And, I must say I was disappointed. Thankfully, I have seen her evolve as an authoress with more depth in some of her later works such as "Exclusive" and "The Witness". In this book, Erin is involved with a G-man who is also investigating her lost brother. Not much action here. Rather bland romance mystery-if that is what she was going for. other reading suggestions: "The Ghost" by Danielle Steel, "Grand Passion" by Jayne Krentz, and for a thriller "Ashes To Ashes" by Tami Hoag Your interest & comment votes are appreciated--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ambitious Generation: America's Teenagers, Motivated but Directionless; Author: Dr. Barbara Schneider; Review: Having two teen sons leads my nose of curiosty to all sorts of helpul books. No one source is a panacea. However, I am happy to know I am not alone in this wonderous yet sometimes bothersome Generation X. Baggy pants, booming music, wild hair colors, peculiar body piercings all are cries for individuality. But is there any sort of ambition under those generational masks? Yes--boundless ambition, in need of direction. This book by David Stevenson and Barbra Schneider comes in hardback and paperback. I suggest the paperback. You are going to want to refer to it time and again. One theme I have noticed in many books including "The Devoicing Of America", is that of isolation. Teens today are wrapped into computers & video games so much, they have gotten away from a guiding hand. They are alone and lost. Surprisingly, compared with the 1950's generation, today's teens have fewer long-lasting relationships and spend much more time alone. Many stay in college longer in lieu of leaping into marriage. They need more guidance than ever before. Would we expect a lone traveler to be told you must reach point A and not give them any map, or ideas or support? No, everyone needs some direction. The study these adolescence experts did of over 7,000 teens shows this generation to be the most ambitious of them all. These teens expect to go to college, graduate and find high paying jobs. On the other hand, when asked how, few had answers. They just expect it. And some of the blame rests on we parents and teachers. Teens take the wrong courses, choose the wrong colleges and then enter college with unrealistic expectations. Through this book, we can find helpful ways of directing teens and even pre-teens of today without adding pressures. I found the following of several students ( Grace, Elizabeth, and Jake) throughout their high school years and then re-visiting them in college interesting case studies of comparison of tools which can be implemented by any care giver. Again, getting back to basics is a central theme. Of course it does not solve everything. It is a first step. It is a way of beginning a successful trip through adolesence to positive adulthood. A way to make dreams come true. Be there for your teen. Communicate. Listen. Of course, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink--leave the book out, you'll see, the ponies of today will also quench themselves and find help in becoming strong stallions of tomorrow. --CDS--; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bleeding Out: A Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Baxter Clare Page; Review: Frank, LA Freek, or as I preferred to think of her, Franco, is a gay policewoman in the sinister world of South L.A. Here, day to day life is not just a jungle, it is a survivor's path of dirt, grafitti, wretched poverty, petty crime, and the force 's obstacle course of keeping some modecum of decorum in their lives, as well as in their assigned neighborhood. Franco is mourning her violently lost lover Maggie. Almost as a turtle wears it's shell, Franco's tough exterior is a protective armour of grueling workouts, alcohol sprints, workaholic tendencies, and self -imposed isolation. Strangely, the tracking of a serial rapist and murderer brings her back to life. I did enjoy this criminal read. There were a few too many characters for my tastes. And at times the writing was trite. Also on the negative side, I wanted to visualize through the author's words the take down of the rapist. That is like the pay-off in a crime story. Like pulling on a one-armed bandit till it spews the action for you. Well, no whistles and bells here--just played off with a newspaper story. I'm not sure if Ms. Clare had a reason for that or if she just ran out of ideas. In fact, I am wondering if someone else wrote the spicy narratives found before most chapters. Now, those were tightly woven glimpses into the rapists life as the story progressed. I anticipated them and found them original, not so forced as some of the book seemed. "Bleeding Out" is an easy to read criminal novel needing a few more twists than lesbianism. Still a good debut novel through Firebrand Books and Baxter Clare. other reading suggestions: "The Woman Who Rode To The Moon" by Bett Reece Johnson and "The Bone Collector" by Jeffrey Deaver Your interest & comment votes are appreciated--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The House of Gentle Men: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Hepinstall Page; Review: What a unique concept "The House of Gentle Men" delivers. Candles flickering, lush voices whispering, and men, some actual boys, servicing women in passionate gentle ways. From the absolute gorgeous cover to the lyrical words by authoress Kathy Hepinstall--we become lost in a world of patient men and recovering women. The central character, Charlotte, herself had been violently raped by three Servicemen during WWII in Louisiana. Becoming pregnant, reclusive, she finds a means of redemption. And so do the men who softly kiss, carress, and fill the desires of women needing everything but the actual act of intercourse. We especially liked one section: "Back at the House of Gentle Men, women had already begun to choose their courtly mates for the night, and the house was beginning to rock with gentleness, as room by room, kisses were asked for and received. ... Despite the fact that electricity had been restored, the men were lighting candles so as to cast a soft light on the lonely, not-yet-soothed faces of women who had managed to escape their families, children, spinsterhood or dead husbands' ghosts." Simply yet artistically told is a delving story into Charlotte's life, those around her and quite possibly, something we all need--comfort. An interesting well crafted debut.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caring in Remembered Ways: The Fruit of Seeing Deeply; Author: Visit Amazon's maggie steincrohn davis Page; Review: "Caring In Remembered Ways" is subtitled "The Fruit of Seeing Deeply" and oh what a blossoming orchard of wisdom Maggie Davis passes on to us throughout her charming book. This is what we refer to as a night stand staple. A book to pick up at any moment, slowly page through, and derive comfort from re-learning how to give comfort. There is poetry, glimpses of heart rendering stories of the dying, of family, and fresh, ripe *bites* of fruit to pick , especially regarding enriching childrens lives. One of our favorite lessons of nature was quoting George Washington Carver--"the man best known for discovering the many uses of peanuts [he] was described as a saintly man who believed that a flower will give up it's secrets to you if you love it enough--that anyone will do that." A beautiful inspirational book in content and appearance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Special Delivery; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: Danielle Steel lately has been, well, a bit disappointing. Now this novel a la the early 90's has grist and is something one can sink their teeth into. A look of 'Nam through central character's (Paxton Andrews) opened idylic eyes as a reporter during seven years in Saigon--is steel! Yes, there is death, love, torture, horrors of war and a cast of characters we want to know personally. My favorite part of this book was the description and action in the infamous Vietnamese tunnels. Bill Quinn, a love interest, is on his 4th tour of duty as captain of the tunnel rats--finding, fighting, escaping from 'neath a matrix ravaged earth. This is Ms. Steel at her best. Well researched, plotted, intricately meshed characters and a fulfilling novel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can; Author: F. Abagnale; Review: What a terrifically humourous book about real crime. Now, that in itself is an unusual statement. This is not crime as in, well, In Cold Blood. It's more like The Pretender from T.V. meets junk bond scammer Michael Milken. Twenty years ago author and central chameleon character, Frank Abagnale, was not only a criminal but a New York Times bestselling author. Along with an upcoming movie, this true life adventure story is being re-released. This daring con man divulges everything from forgery of over $2.5 mil in checks, to being a pseudo-pilot for Pan Am, a sociology college professor, supervising doctor, everything but an Indian Chief--maybe that too if monies were involved. For five years his ego lead him around the world as Frank Abagnale aka Robert Conrad, Frank Adams and Robert Monjo. Maybe even more. Playing up life as if he owned the secrets of the Universe. You just have to admire a guy like that. Rather the way you pull for the fictional characters, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. Only Frank lives-to now help the Government prevent the type of fraud and debunking our modern day bandit loved to pull off. This is just a great rollicking read & I await the movie with much anticipation. other reading suggestion: "The Millionaire-Story of John Law" by Gleeson Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Photographs Annie Leibovitz 1970-1990; Author: Visit Amazon's Annie Leibovitz Page; Review: Annie Leibovitz has searching eyes which catch the light, the action, the expression of people the way Ansel Adams had the eyes for nature. In this beautiful coffee table book, one of the favorite pics is of Whoopi Goldberg. The contrast of her dark caramel skin peeking through the surface of a bright white milk bath is astounding. The curved artistic forms of Yoko Ono & John Lennon show them as they were--as one. You just want to slowly trace your finger over their shapes. There are over 200 photos to delight the senses. Most are of famous people which Ms. L has had contacts with from her work at Rolling Stone and other venues. These performers seem to open up to this photographer and are willing to show something more than their "star" profile. Even people who are not into art or photography, like this book. A grand illusionary celebration. Thanks for your interest & comment vote--CDS; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Notice (Kay Scarpetta); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page; Review: After I read her last book, Point of Origin, I was hesitant in buying into Ms. Cornwell again. Being optimistic, I bit for this one. And it did not bite back. In fact it gummed me to death. Did anyone else find the dialogue so cluttered a dustbuster couldn't clear it up? I do not like to *dis* any book or any author, they do something I cannot--write. However, in good faith, I cannot recommend Black Notice due to poor plot, dialogue, & frustrating folly. other reading suggestions: "Bleeding Out" by Baxter Clare, "Ashes To Ashes" by Tami Hoag, and "Manhattan Is My Beat" by Jeffrey Deaver Thanks for your interest & comment vote--CDS; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ranch; Author: Visit Amazon's Danielle Steel Page; Review: Ms. Steel is attempting to change scenery or plotlines or something here--it just does not work compared to some of her other works. Granted, such a prolific authoress has her ups and downs, but her see-saw seems to be stuck on the ground. In "The Ranch" we meet Mary, Tanya, and Zoe. Lifetime friends who reunite at a dude ranch in Colorado. It is here they reveal secrets, make amends and share their lives and loves. Not a bad book, just not a good one. other reading suggestions" "The Ghost" by Danielle Steel and "Grand Passion" by Jayne Krentz Thanks for your interest & comment vote--CDS; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe; Author: Visit Amazon's Edgar Allan Poe Page; Review: The Amazon.com price on this superb book of Poe's complete published works is phenomenal. Only $18.00 for over 600 pages of one of the most widely read masters of horror in our times. Most people become familiar with Poe through mandatory reading assignments in middle school. How many of us were forced to memorize "The Raven"--and now are so glad we did? This heavy yet sturdy book allows one to spread their ravenal wings so to speak and enjoy Poe at will. Perhaps with a snifter of warmed brandy while seated in a leather buttoned wing chair, one can read through "The Telltale Heart", "Murders of the Rue Morgue" or one of our favorites, "A Cask Of Amontilliado". Listen! Sounds of the Carnival in Spain, bawdy drunken laughter, the echoing steps down into the dank wine cellar, the lure of tasting a rare wine, the viciousness taken upon the despised know-it-all, chaining him to the wall, entombing him in, brick by brick until the very last one is in place, the realized screams as the torch is thrown and his death ends his arrogance by a supposed mere simpleton. One can only imagine Poe's daily thoughts, dreams, and nightmares. Whether drug induced or not, Edgar Allen Poe's hand to paper still thrills us today and forever. This compilation would make a great gift for literary lovers and students who will become enthralled by this scary genius. other reading suggestions: "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King Thanks for your interest & comment vote--Goldcoast; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort Spa; City: Varadero Matanzas Province Cuba; Review: Overall an enjoyable stay. Fantastic beach, comfortable rooms, most of the staff were friendly, good quality beverages except the coffee in the breakfast buffet which was so weak it could have been brown water. Go to the lobby bar and get a double Expresso if you want proper coffee. Quality of food in the buffet Restaraunt was poor and unattractively presented. Much of the meat was tough and poorly cooked. The oven grilled chicken at the beach Restaraunt was okay but was served inedible grilled fish on one visit. Hotel was full and beach Restaraunt staff seemed to be under a lot of stress.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chena Huts by Uga Escapes; City: Palatupana Yala National Park; Review: Very small and exclusive resort. Excellent staff, food and facilities. Our suite was incredible, massive room with own plunge pool and decking area looking out on the beach. Not suitable for sea swimming as strong currents. We found leopard footprints on the beach and evidence that an elephant had visited. We stayed 2 nights and did 4 safaris, all included in the price. Our ranger was brilliant and we saw leopards, elephants crocodiles, land and water monitors, water buffalo, deer, mongooses, snakes and a huge variety of birds. The staff really care for their guests needs. Would definitely go back if we visit Sri Lanka again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heritance Tea Factory; City: Nuwara Eliya Central Province; Review: The road leading to the hotel is very narrow and is an interesting drive especially when one meets a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Views of the tea plantations and lovely setting when you finally arrive. Our room was clean and adequate. The couples herbal massage was very relaxing after a long drive. Food was good. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to do the tea picking as we arrived in the evening and had to leave for our next destination early the next morning.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kuramathi Island Resort; City: Kuramathi; Review: Spent a week in a beach villa, room service was good and great snorkelling, although most of the coral is dead. Was a bit nervous of the reef sharks at first but they don’t seem to bother humans. Saw a large moray eel on the beach side of the artificial breakwater. The Haruge buffet restaurant is ok but to upgrade to Select All Inclusive is around $55 per person per day so makes al a carte expensive. Some nights at the buffet were excellent but others mediocre, we particularly enjoyed the sashimi and sushi but this was available 1 night only. If we had known how filthy and unattractive the neighbouring island, Rashdoo was we would not have wasted our time in going on the free trip there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mount Lavinia Hotel; City: Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Western Province; Review: Stayed 2 nights and ate dinner at the superb Fish Market restaurant on the beach. The breakfast buffet was excellent with lots of choice. Loved the Wood Apple juice. Nice swimming pool on the terrace. Our room had a lovely sea view. Avoid the public beach the other side of the hotel as there’s lots of dogs mess and rubbish laying around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cinnamon Lodge Habarana; City: Habarana North Central Province; Review: We stayed 2 nights and enjoyed the large swimming pool and a cycle ride around the hotel grounds. The food was good in the buffet restaurant and plenty of choice. Our room was spacious and clean and looked out over the lake.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Earl s Regency Hotel; City: Tennekumbura Kandy District Central Province; Review: Attractive swimming pool. Food in buffet restaurant was fine but wish we had tried the Indian al a carte. Torrential rain when we arrived but soon cleared up. Room was satisfactory and clean. Nice cakes for afternoon tea.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jetwing Sea; City: Negombo Western Province; Review: Arrived at around 5:30am and although checking in time was 2pm, hotel kindly let us have our room around 6:30am so we were able to rest after long flight. Room was clean and comfortable. Beach was lovely but sea too rough to swim in. Breakfast was really good, we tried the fish curry which was delicious.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SigTac Roto Retention Paddle Holster for SIG fits Mosquito Roto Retention Paddle; Brand: SigTac; Review: A perfect fit for the mosquito. Holds the gun firmly with easy release. The hard shell material will help protect the gun from damage and the clip holder is very handy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BARSKA 15-40x50 Colorado Spotting Scope; Brand: BARSKA; Review: Was a little more compact than expected but for the bargain seeker and occasional user, this fits the bill. Will it satisfy the needs of hardcore hunters, probably not, but if all you need is a scope to help at the range it is a perfect mix of price and function. Like others, I suggest you add a more stable tripod because the one it comes with leaves much to be desired and the case is a bit on the tight side. Otherwise it does what I expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Splatterburst Targets - 12 x12 inch (5) Bullseye Reactive Shooting Target - Shots Burst Bright Fluorescent Yellow Upon Impact; Brand: Splatterburst Targets; Review: Excellent way to hone your skills without having to change targets at each target change period. They are bright and easy to see through the scope or with a spotting scope. These are NOT adhesive backed and need to be clipped taped, stapled or bubble gummed to your holder/existing target.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rail Mounted Push Button Qd Quick Release 1.25" Sling Swivel with Base Mount By Ade Advanced Optics; Brand: Ade Advanced Optics; Review: Fits nicely, works great. What more need be said?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Princeton Tec Miniwave II Scuba Diving,; Brand: Princeton Tec; Review: I expected a bright light, it is not. Light is well made and may last a long time, but I wanted a more intense light. Just not for me.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flambeau Outdoor 6305 T4 Multiloader Tackle Station, Smoke; Brand: Flambeau Tackle; Review: I bought this as a gun cleaning kit but has limited space for longer items so I turned this into my gun spare parts and gunsmith tool box. It does have a nice deep top compartment without the two top trays. The trays have actual hinges so they should last a lot longer than the cheaper option of a thin plastic strip. Unfortunately the closing clips are not hinged so we will see how long they last before the thin plastic strip begins to fail. A sturdy box and would work great for the designed purpose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tac Force Assisted Opening Rescue Glass Breaker Bright Red Skull Design Hunting Camping Tatical Pocket Knife; Brand: Wartech; Review: The color and design are great. Arrived sharp and fits in the hand nicely. Spring is a little weaker than my Hoffman which opens with an impressive "snap", but it works. A nice tool to keep handy with the belt cutter and glass breaker. For the price you can buy one for your car, your survival pack and as gifts. The only downside is the lanyard hole only accepts a single strand of paracord so it is limited on what you can weave into it unless you use a separate ring. Great little knife.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UTG 4-16X44 30mm Scope, AO, 36-color Mil-dot, w/ Rings; Brand: UTG; Review: I like the scope, PRO: The turret locks are a great addition. I would expect the higher end scopes to have this, but they don't. It makes it great when you want to "ZERO" the numbers on the mark without moving the turret. It is well built and everything moves smoothly. The zoom and parallax adjustments are smooth without being loose. MOA click are more precise "Clicks" than my Bushnell AR scope. The Rings/Mounts are are solid and use Hex bolts. CON: The eye relief is a little to close. First shot in Prone I got Scope-Bite. There is little tolerance with your sight line and will 'shadow' the side you are not centered on. Clarity is not best, not bad, but I am a photographer and I see thing others don't. Overall this is a good scope and it holds its 'zero' on my .308 but it is a bargain scope which shows in the optics. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad, it just doesn't have the clarity of a Nikon but I don't remember it claiming to.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TACFUN Black Tactical Smart Polymer Front/Rear Combo Set Flip Up; Brand: TACFUN; Review: They do exactly what they are intended to do, be back up sights. Mounting is easy, just remove the screw (be careful no to drop the captured nut on the other side) and slip it onto the end of the rail, then slid into place centering the screw hole with one of the rail channels. Insert the screw and tighten with the supplied allen. Done. Note: The rear sight will not retract if the sight is flipped to the small aperture. Other than that, the adjustments are no frills, but require no tools to make changes in the field. In the closed position they are out of the way and you can use them through a non-magnifying scope such as a red dot. If you need a set of "BACK UP" sights these are a very good option without paying the high price of name brands.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction); Author: Visit Amazon's Arnold Schwarzenegger Page; Review: Excellent read. It was great to get a backstage look at Arnolds life. I especially like how much time he spent elaborating on each project he worked on as well as how it affected his life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tales of the Bounty Hunters (Star Wars) (Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin J. Anderson Page; Review: Bought this book when it was first release, was excited to re-purchase it as a digital book, as the original I had was lost to time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rethinking the Internet of Things: A Scalable Approach to Connecting Everything; Author: Visit Amazon's Francis daCosta Page; Review: Decent, yet overly-simple introduction to IOT.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm; Author: Nosy Crow; Review: My 1 year old sone and 3 year old daughter LOVE all the Bizzy Bear books! Perfect for keeping toddlers engaged and creating a love for reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bizzy Bear: Zookeeper; Author: Nosy Crow; Review: My 1 year old sone and 3 year old daughter LOVE all the Bizzy Bear books! Perfect for keeping toddlers engaged and creating a love for reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bizzy Bear: Dinosaur Safari; Author: Nosy Crow; Review: My 1 year old sone and 3 year old daughter LOVE all the Bizzy Bear books! Perfect for keeping toddlers engaged and creating a love for reading. The first one came ripped, but amazon replaced it quickly and easily!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bizzy Bear: Space Rocket; Author: Nosy Crow; Review: My 1 year old sone and 3 year old daughter LOVE all the Bizzy Bear books! Perfect for keeping toddlers engaged and creating a love for reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pokemon: Pikachu and Pals Junior Handbook: Pikachu and Pals Jr. Handbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Simcha Whitehill Page; Review: Purchased this for my niece's 3rd birthday. She was thrilled!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Surprise, Thomas! (Thomas & Friends) (A Chunky Book(R)); Author: William Heinemann; Review: Smaller than expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Backyard Birds of Illinois: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Fenimore Page; Review: I'm very frustrated with the quality of this book. I checked it out from the library and loved it so much I purchased one of our own. The one from the library has thick, glossy pages and is really sturdy. This newer print version is awful. It's so flimsy and the pages are so thin that you can see through to the other side of each page. The content of this book is great for backyard bird watching, but I don't know how it's not going to get ripped up very easily.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hampton Inn Bardstown; City: Bardstown Kentucky; Review: Staff not very welcoming, bathroom smelled of mildew, comfortable, roomy bed, good internet connection. Decent breakfast, very nice woman working the breakfast service. Felt as if I was an inconvenience to the staff upon my arrival, was never asked anything except "what can I do for you" upon arrival but overall a decent place to stay, would not recommend to a friend.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Bartlesville; City: Bartlesville Oklahoma; Review: Highly recommended. I would stay here again, and I will the next time I am in Bartlesville. Convenient location to places of interest including the Price Tower and the Phillips Museum. A few local restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance. Free live music at Frank and Lola's on Saturday night! Also good food there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Bartlesville; City: Bartlesville Oklahoma; Review: This is the only place I will stay in Bartlesville. The rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable. The staff is friendly and helpful. There is a very nice bar which is well stocked and friendly servers. The hotel is conveniently located in the downtown area near several nice restaurants and shopping areas. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Tifton; City: Tifton Georgia; Review: We enjoyed our stay here very much. It is very conveniently located near the highway so it is easy to get to after a long day driving. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. The room was very clean and comfortable, and we had a great sleep in the king bed. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: A very convenient location to many find restaurants and theaters in the area. Our primary reason to visit was to go to the Art Institute of Chicago, and even though it was a bit of a hike it was still easy to get there. And the parking garage was very convenient.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learning Phone; Brand: Fisher; Review: I've heard many here harp about how the volume is too low. That's not the problem, as the volume level is fine. You don't want it too loud anyway, since this is a 'phone', and many children have a tendency to bring it close to their ears. The main issue is that the audio is not CLEAR! It sounds muffled. Fisher-Price should use a better quality speaker so we can better hear the letters, numbers, and music. Another concern of mine is the yellow 'smiley antenna' on the front top right of the unit. It can eventually loosen up or break off, which can present a potentially deadly choking hazard! So please monitor your little bugaboos if they have a tendency to chew on this toy as well. I speak for myself, since our daughter is only 6 months old, and finds just as much interest in suckling on this phone as much as listening to it! Otherwise, this is a very good product, with a very neat geometric display of 'dancing lights' and spatial patterns, which can help infants learn and build visual acuity.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VTech - Discovery Nursery Farm; Brand: ; Review: Before I start my review, I noticed that the latest version of this toy apparently differs slightly visually than the one pictured here on Amazon. My guess is that there may be two versions of this toy out, or that the one I purchased is the most recent incarnation. My review is for this current version as of March 2006. In short, this is an EXCELLENT toy for a developing infant, because it provides a good panoply of learning sound effects and songs to go along with blinking lights, and a functional keyboard to learn new music skills on. As the advertising for this toy states, the 'Discovery Nursery Farm' has many developmental benefit functions, such as developing motor skills, visual awareness, language development, and imaginative play thru realistic animal sounds and nursery rhymes that infants love to hear. And even though our infant is only 7 months old (the box it came in says it is for infants "9+ months"), she LOVES this toy, as is evidenced by her many smiles, giggles, 'razzing', and overall attention she pays to it. And we have thankfully had no issues with fingers getting stuck, or other safety issues. Perhaps the newer version has effectively addressed this previous safety issue that some reviewers brought up here. In addition, ergonomically, this is a GREAT toy for an infant who loves to spend a lot of time on his/her tummy. The toy is on their level physically, and they can play with it easily while lying down as well as sitting up, with all the buttons and keys well within their reach. And on the lighter subject of the singer being a wee bit 'off key', and having a strange voice (as some reviewers have mentioned), this is really a 'non-issue'. In fact, his interesting voice sounds kind of appropriately goofy and perfectly fit for a fun child's toy. Then again, compared to hearing the English language butchered and 'raped' so many times ever since moving to the state of Ohio 10 years ago, his voice is excellent! GREAT JOB 'VTech'!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Touch LeapPad; Brand: ; Review: Please ignore the ridiculous 1 and 2 star reviews here folks. They are unwarranted. We have an 8 month old girl, who is delighted with this product, but if and only IF we show common-sense enthusiasm and guide her through the 'touch-screen' process in this product. This of course, is true with MANY learning products and books. An infant 'feeds off of' your enthusiam, love, and willingness to teach them. The 'LeapPad' is essentially an electronic, touch-sensor driven learning tool, that in my opinion, is better suited for babies over a year old, since at that point, their motor skills are better developed than a younger infant, and can actually 'activate' some of the touch-driven sounds this product can perform. This is not to say a younger infant (our 8 month old being an example) does not enjoy or benefit from it. For the price, the 'LeapPad' is a decent value and tool to expand your infant's/child's knowledge and imagination base! Buy with confidence!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn™ Stride-to-Ride Learning Walker™; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For many babies 9 months old and older (as Fisher-Price recommends on the box), this 'Learning Car' is downright dangerous and can spell disaster. Our 10 month old daughter has been standing and 'cruising' now for months, yet when she grabs onto the handle of this product, it moves from underneath her way too quickly (or just flips over!), and she falls hard to the ground! Even flat on her face at times! If your baby has control over this aspect (i.e. OLDER babies, or developmentally advanced ones), the product should be fine. BUT, if not, as is the case with many younger babies at the incipient stages of walking, this product can hurt your infant. The wheels should have some resistance built into them, so that the product does not roll out quickly from underneath the infant. BUYER BEWARE!!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Star Station Entertainment System; Brand: ; Review: The sing along in front of a camera while watching yourself on TV concept is good here. The camera works quite well, but you have to have a lamp or two on, or be in a room with ample sunlight. The audio quality and volume is mediocre, mic range is not too good, and the songs should be sung in a more traditional sense, not the cheesy jazz rock style that is not even done well. There should also be more than 4 songs provided. For the fifty bucks or so we paid locally, I expected more. YMMV.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Star Station Entertainment System; Brand: ; Review: The sing along in front of a camera while watching yourself on TV concept is good here. The camera works quite well, but you have to have a lamp or two on, or be in a room with ample sunlight. The audio quality and volume is mediocre, mic range is not too good, and the songs should be sung in a more traditional sense, not the cheesy jazz rock style that is not even done well. There should also be more than 4 songs provided. For the fifty bucks or so we paid locally, I expected more. YMMV.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Star Station Entertainment System; Brand: ; Review: The sing along in front of a camera while watching yourself on TV concept is good here. The camera works quite well, but you have to have a lamp or two on, or be in a room with ample sunlight. The audio quality and volume is mediocre, mic range is not too good, and the songs should be sung in a more traditional sense, not the cheesy jazz rock style that is not even done well. There should also be more than 4 songs provided. For the fifty bucks or so we paid locally, I expected more. YMMV.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Star Station Entertainment System; Brand: ; Review: The sing along in front of a camera while watching yourself on TV concept is good here. The camera works quite well, but you have to have a lamp or two on, or be in a room with ample sunlight. The audio quality and volume is mediocre, mic range is not too good, and the songs should be sung in a more traditional sense, not the cheesy jazz rock style that is not even done well. There should also be more than 4 songs provided. For the fifty bucks or so we paid locally, I expected more. YMMV.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Fun-2-Learn Computer Cool School; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This product would easily get 4 or 5 stars if it were not for the paltry amount of activities/screens that come with the unit. Come on Fisher-Price- for [...] bucks you should include a few extra discs of software to increase the functionality and value. One can easily spend another one [...] dollars or more just for the software alone! Which is what most parents will want to do, given the pathetically miniscule and cheap amount of activities that come with the unit. What a LOUSY value! You can buy a DELL netbook computer with built in Wi-Fi for the cost of the 'Computer Cool School' unit and the extra software that SHOULD HAVE COME WITH IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: LeapFrog Scribble and Write; Brand: LeapFrog; Review: We got this for our 4 year old 'little lady', and she LOVES it! She's constantly practicing her writing skills with it, and spends a long time learning how to. There is a voice guide that visually shows you how to draw and form a letter (upper and lower case) or shape, and kids (and parents) love this feature. All in all, this is a very educational and practical 'toy' for young children learning to draw shapes, numbers, and letters. A huge winner!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VTech Bugsby Reading System Pen and Starter Book; Brand: VTech; Review: This 'toy' is a godsend! Our 5 year old LOVES it, and so do mom and dad, for it's educational value. You can have 'Bugsby' read each page to you, read each word, and comment on various pictures or characters in the book. A phenomenal product to help teach young minds reading and words. A thousand stars!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hannah Montana FM Microphone; Brand: Arbor Toys; Review: I put in a fresh set of alkalines, and proceeded to try and tune in this microphone on several FM clock radios and stereo receivers in the house, with no success. Very frustrating, even for this radio enthusiast and Ham Radio operator! I then broke out my very sensitive 'Grundig G8' shortwave receiver (which has the FM band and digital tuning) and voila, I was able to receive the microphone and it's sound effects on 100.4 MHz FM. However, the audio quality and level was so low that I could barely hear my daughter's speaking or singing voice. The applause and scratching sound effects did come through fine. The range of this device is terrible as well, and I lost the signal at about 10 feet away. Needless to say, I had a highly dissapointed 5 year old girl on my hands. This product is clearly substandard and should never have been sold to the unsuspecting public. If they can address the low audio and low range issue, this will be an excellent product. Until then though, steer clear!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This is, by far, the absolute WORST computer related 'toy' that Fisher-Price has put out. It freezes and crashes my Dell Windows XP machine most of the time, to the point where it is an exercise in total frustration to get this software/hardware to work! To add insult to injury, we also layed out a good amount of money for some of the other titles that go with it, such as 'Barbie Fairytopia'. Why can't Fisher-Price put out a good working product here that isn't defective, such as 'Computer Cool School'?! In any case, my 5 year old and her parents are frustrated and dissapointed, and feel cheated. The many negative reviews here are no coincidence. There should be a class action suit against Fisher-Price for a defective product. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME Fisher-Price for ripping off your customers, many of whom have been loyal to you!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hallmark Gifts - Jingle the Husky Pup Interactive Storybook and Plush by Hallmark - XKT8001; Brand: Hallmark; Review: My 6 year old daughter, who usually gets bored with toys quickly, absolutely LOVES 'Jingle'! We both got a kick out of how he accurately and consistently responds to certain audio cues (sentences or phrases) from the included storybook. 'Hallmark' is onto something here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center; Brand: Step2; Review: My 6 year old daughter loves this combination sandbox and picnic table! Assembly was very easy and intuitive too. The only issue is the very flimsy sandbox cover. 'Step2' could have done a much better job designing it. It is very lightweight and cheap, and does not provide a good cover for the sand during rainstorms or windstorms. The cover is not heavy enough, so it easily flies off unless you use bungee cords to hold it on (there are holes in the unit to accept bungee cords), or if you place a couple of patio chairs on top. More importantly, our cover seems bent in one area, so it does not provide a good seal (there is a good sized gap where the cover meets the sandbox), and allows some rain in to wet the sand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center; Brand: Step2; Review: My 6 year old daughter loves this combination sandbox and picnic table! Assembly was very easy and intuitive too. The only issue is the very flimsy sandbox cover. 'Step2' could have done a much better job designing it. It is very lightweight and cheap, and does not provide a good cover for the sand during rainstorms or windstorms. The cover is not heavy enough, so it easily flies off unless you use bungee cords to hold it on (there are holes in the unit to accept bungee cords), or if you place a couple of patio chairs on top. More importantly, our cover seems bent in one area, so it does not provide a good seal (there is a good sized gap where the cover meets the sandbox), and allows some rain in to wet the sand.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center; Brand: Step2; Review: My 6 year old daughter loves this combination sandbox and picnic table! Assembly was very easy and intuitive too. The only issue is the very flimsy sandbox cover. 'Step2' could have done a much better job designing it. It is very lightweight and cheap, and does not provide a good cover for the sand during rainstorms or windstorms. The cover is not heavy enough, so it easily flies off unless you use bungee cords to hold it on (there are holes in the unit to accept bungee cords), or if you place a couple of patio chairs on top. More importantly, our cover seems bent in one area, so it does not provide a good seal (there is a good sized gap where the cover meets the sandbox), and allows some rain in to wet the sand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Knuffle Bunny12.25''; Brand: YOTTOY; Review: My daughter loves her 'Knuffle Bunny', but was highly dissapointed when the darn thing's whiskers fell off on the FIRST DAY! I'm not surprised.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Knuffle Bunny12.25''; Brand: YOTTOY; Review: My daughter loves her 'Knuffle Bunny', but was highly dissapointed when the darn thing's whiskers fell off on the FIRST DAY! I'm not surprised.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Knuffle Bunny12.25''; Brand: YOTTOY; Review: My daughter loves her 'Knuffle Bunny', but was highly dissapointed when the darn thing's whiskers fell off on the FIRST DAY! I'm not surprised.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Kids Teach 'n' Talk Exploration Laptop, Blue; Brand: Discovery Kids; Review: These companies that sell junk with very attractive packaging should be ashamed of themselves! My 7 year old (and we) were VERY dissapointed when the LCD display did not work well, even with new batteries! The display is very dim, and the graphics ancient. Of course we don't expect HD graphics, but my god, make it at least workable for the children! The many 1 star reviews here corroborate my findings and opinion. These pathetic and dishonest companies should be shut down by the Federal Trade Commission pronto!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: LEGO Friends Summer Riding Camp #3185 New in Sealed Factory Package RETIRED; Brand: Lalaloopsy; Review: We purchased this at our local LEGO store at the mall for about 99 dollars. Usually, Amazon is cheaper than brick and mortar stores, but in this case we were surprised to see this listed here for about 150 dollars. Anywho, our 7 year old daughter was thrilled to get this, and she enthusiastically put it together in a few hours. She loves 'role playing' with this for hours, and when we hear her talking by herself in the next room, we know she's having a blast with her LEGO 'summer riding camp'!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power Wheels Barbie Jammin Jeep Wrangler; Brand: ; Review: I'm a frequent reviewer here on Amazon, and figured it was time to review some of my daughter's toys. We purchased this excellent Barbie Jeep for her 4 years ago, and it has lasted all this time, with NO issues whatsoever! It's been used frequently, Spring thru Fall seasons, by at least 5 to 6 neighborhood kids, even riding double, on pavement, grass, and dirt, and still has the original battery which still retains an excellent, long charge! Now THAT is quality and deserves praise! My daughter is now too tall (she is 8 years old, and 90 pounds) to comfortably drive this Barbie Jeep, but she still tries in a cramped position! If I can figure out how to modify the seat to accomodate her still, I will do so. This is how much she LOVES her 'ride'! A truly GREAT product that 'kid dreams' are made of!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Barbie 2-Story Beach House; Brand: Mattel; Review: I can't tell you how many times we've been ripped off with cheap quality toys over the years. It was a pleasure to finally find a product that is priced well, made well, and that snaps together with ease and precision (the parts fit well)! It comes with a good amount of accessories as well, but no dolls. Which is OK because frankly, we already have many. Our 8 year old little lady loves her Barbie beach house! Nice going MATTEL!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set; Brand: Kahootz; Review: I remember the original 'Spirograph' back in the 60's and 70's. It was a much superior product compared to this cheapened version. The plastic pieces were made of harder plastic (making it easier to use), compared to the flimsy plastic now. Pins and a cardboard surface were included that held the pieces firm as well. Now they include putty (what a joke!) to supposedly hold the pieces firm (it does not). Whereas the 60's and 70's product was a total joy to use (because it worked much better and more precisely), this current incarnation is an exercise in frustration! 'Spirograph' is an excellent, classic, and amazing past-time, but this current release is a far cry of what it used to be, quality-wise. Then again, companies cheapening or 'watering down' quality is so utterly prevalent in today's times, whether it be food, toys, music, and many other products! America is not what it used to be. Sad, but true.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Riviera Resort; City: Batticaloa Eastern Province; Review: We stayed here for 2 nights. We walked in a got told price was 4900 with air con. Online stated the rooms had "toiletries, TV, hair dryer" - none of these. One bar of soap. We asked where the pool was and was then told we had to pay extra for this?! So strange. 1- why weren't we told this when we arrived? 2-why not just put these prices into the price you tell arriving guests. Apparently it hasn't long been finished and prices online haven't been updated - this is not acceptable when you are showing the pool in photos and descriptions. Also, while it makes sense you've got to recoup the money you've spent building the pool (which, is gorgeous!) they've managed this very badly. BECAUSE - it's not even finished. We are paying for a pool but - there are no cushions on the poolside beds, to walk to the showers by the pool you have to walk along broken/old wooden packaging and stand on pieces of brown tile scraps. There are also still works being some around the pool and one afternoon they were cutting tiles with a crazy loud machine. Breakfast was shocking. We ordered a scrambled egg, tea, and cornflakes. 25 minutes later they finally arrived. (You can't order tea with mill, it's either black tea or milky tea meaning you're given a hot-chocolate style tea!) The "scrambled egg" was so terrible. I actually laughed when they brought it out. 25minutes for this sad little thing? What? It was a weird tiny egg cup sized portion on a metal plate, and was soooo sweet and looked nothing like scrambled egg. Seriously, I've never had such a rubbish egg. I don't believe it was fresh, it must've been made with powdered egg. Disgusting. They also add 10% service on the bill! meaning that joke of a breakfast cost us 750! Dinner was also average. Vegetable curry was watery and bland, pumpkin curry tasted bland and overdone and watery also, the devilled beef seemed ok. Beer is. Ot on the menu and we were told the wrong price. The dinner staff don't seem to happy to be there and the lighting is a bit dim and dismal making the whole ambiance a bit glum to be honest. This place has potential to be wonderful, but the food needs improving, the hotel needs finishing, and the prices reducing. There is nothing within walking distance except for little corner shops so alternative food options are not easy. We ended up just having a chicken burger across the bridge on our second night as we really didn't want to eat at the hotel. It's almost there but if I'd booked to go here on holiday I'd be sorely disappointed!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ella Okreech Cottages; City: Ella Uva Province; Review: We were really impressed by the Okreech cottages. Firstly, so easy to find as they are up the street beside where the bus drops you off. The gentleman who checked us in was very sweet and friendly although not the most fluent of English (seems just to know hotel/checking in related lingo) but this was only a problem when I wanted to know where to buy beer! :) (still not sure) I digress...this accomodation is simple, stylish and beautiful. One of the nicest places we stayed in so far in Sri Lanka. Comfy, large bed, mozzie net, nice pillows (although the spares in the wardrobe did smell musty!) A beautiful balcony/seating area and lovely sized bathroom with hot water on demand and even in the sink! It made for a lovely 2 night stay and I would also highly recommend you go for a Dahl breakfast with hoppers at the cafe by the main road entrance (less than £1!!) and go for dinner at jade tea rooms restaurant (look on tripadvisor for it! So delicious) The hotel manager also gave us directions to the little Adams peak walk which was a pleasant 2 hours there and back, including stopping for a drink of water and to catch our breath now and then! Only downside is lack of light when going to and from the hotel at night. The road is very steep and you will definitely need a torch. Failing that, there is a large rechargeable lamp in the room but....that's a bit huge to lug around when going for dinner but it is an option. Do stay here!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: YHA Rotorua; City: Rotorua Rotorua District Bay of Plenty Region North Island; Review: My boyfriend and I are travelling around the world on a 15 month trip. 12 months down the line the YHA's in New Zealand were some of the best hostels we stayed in. Nice sized rooms, huge communal areas, huge well equipped kitchen which is also laid out very well. I also love the fact that they have recycle bins and even a food scraps bin for pigs! So brilliant! Free wifi if you're a YHA member, which we both signed up to as if you're staying more than 10 nights it's worth it (especially when you also consider the free wifi, because NZ is weird and everywhere wants to charge for wifi!!) Really enjoyed our stay here, also the calibre of people staying here seem much more pleasant than you would get at. Say, X Base. No rowdy drunken backpackers here! Very nice and would be family friendly, would definitely stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cairns Central YHA Backpackers Hostel; City: Cairns Cairns Region Queensland; Review: Enjoyed our stay here, nice big kitchen with plenty of pits and pans. Cutlery seemed a little scarce and there is a big problem with wet tea towels/people not washing up. But they have a 'free food' shelf which actually is rammed full of all sorts where people are finishing their time in Oz before flying and so leave their food. You could easily save yourself money by browsing this before going shopping. 6 bed dorm was a bit cramped, tiny space to walk along the ends of the beds and lockers weren't big enough/most at one end of the room so if you're getting something out there is no space to walk by. BUT this is not a problem. Really enjoy the YHA hostels and the staff were friendly and helpful and I thought it was great they even had two big pots of sun cream at reception for people to put some on before they leave for the day; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lal Homestay; City: Sigiriya Central Province; Review: I'll have to control myself so that I don't write too much because I honestly just loved my stay here. The food. Oh my, the food!!!!! Yes! LAL and his family are the essence of what makes visiting Sri Lanka magical. They are warm, friendly, kind, sweet, generous and so happy to help. Located minutes away from the entrance to Sigiriya Lion's rock, it's a really peaceful area but also with easy bus access. (Lal knows all the times and can help you get anywhere) Free bicycles if you want to cycle around the local area. Rooms were a decent size, with mosquito nets, a fan, curtains and bathroom has hot and cold water. The food. My oh my the food was just incredible. It's been 1 week since we were there and I miss Lal's Homestay! His daughter and son are very sweet, and wife is an amazing cook! The portions are so generous, if you want more they'll bring it out, beer (big can of lion) was only 50 and big bottles of water cheap too. Breakfast was hoppers, or string hoppers, or pancakes with caramelised coconut, or (my favourite) coconut Roti's with jam and also toast. Nice big pot of tea. Then...you get given leftovers as a little picnic/packed lunch which is so ideal when you've just climbed the big rock or visited the old city at Polonoruwa. Dinner is just incredible. THE AUBERGINES!! Wow wow wow! Beautiful food, so generous with their portions, Lal might sit and chat with you which is just lovely and you will leave the dinner table feeling absolutely stuffed and completely satisfied! One afternoon when we came back from the rock, we even got given a big glass of juice and some fresh watermelon. Magic. Such a brilliant added touch which really takes the experience to a whole new level. We loved our stay with Lal, ended up staying 3 nights when we had only planned 1 and we left with a great feeling of content, happiness and relaxation. Honestly wish Every night around Sri Lanka could start and end at Lal's. Thank you for opening your home to us Lal, you are wonderful!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lila Hoi An Homestay; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: Cannot express enough, my enjoyment at staying here! The ladies will look after you like a member of their own family. Water with breakfast, before you go out for a walk (towels and hats if you're cycling to the beach!) a delicious smoothie when you return some days, a cake if you're around and they're making one...incredible!!! And my goodness those breakfasts are just unbelievable. Proper vietnamese food, and served with authentic delicious coffee! What I loved is the amazing level of service, you get shown what to do with your food (e.g. Put veggies in or mix in this sauce or that) also only £3-5 to get into town if you get a taxi but walking is hot but pleasant enough. Great location. Don't bother with Danang, it's all about Lila and seeing Hoi An! If you're there for the lunar full moon then even better as the town does a lantern festival and the street food is out of this world! THANK YOU LILA HOMESTAY!!!!!! We Eve got hugs and photos when we left, loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paraty Beach Hostel; City: Paraty State of Rio de Janeiro; Review: When we arrived, the guy welcoming us seemed friendly and nice and explained about all the 'fresh fruit and amazing food' for breakfast. That turned out to be a sad tray of warm almost rotten fruit and tomatoes, sweaty cheese and wet ham with stale sweet bread. So bad!! Furthermore, when we were leaving, our bus was at 11pm. They said it was ok for us to hang around until then. We went out for most of the afternoon and had some beach time, but then of course wanted to shower, get changed, and freshen up before we left at about 7 to head into town have leisurely dinner and then get the bus. Whilst in the shower the guy comes to the room and starts shouting at my boyfriend saying we are not allowed to be here! So basically he meant our bags could stay but we couldn't be in the hostel. So ridiculous. Adding to this point the hostel was half empty, our room of 6 had only us 2 in it(and no new arrivals) they didn't clean the room the whole time we were there and it was fairly dirty to even begin with. Then on hostelbookers they falsely claimed that we made them have to clean the room twice (because of us being there after checkout which they said we could be....) this is such a lie as they didn't even clean the room so I have no idea what their problem was. We've stayed in hundreds of hostels since and this is by far one of the worst stays we have had. Only good thing is you get wifi on the beach by the hostel. We also did the 'boat trip' with Max who proceeded to smoke about 5 spiffs the whole time and generally be a bit weird. The "packed lunch" was gross sandwiches made from the already stale breakfast that was leftover that morning (and probably even from the day before). DISGUSTING!!! Please don't stay here!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Diamond Westlake Suites; City: Hanoi; Review: We rented the apartment for 4 nights. Booking.com said "2 bedrooms with a fold out bed from the wall" but in actual fact we got a place with three bedrooms. It has 1 en suite and another bathroom, a decent kitchen with stove, soap and washing machine in addition to a huge fridge. An excellent tv with surround sound for your music and a little balcony. And the breakfasts were simply incredible, so much choice, the Pho was delicious and something to suit everyone. Eggs, Pho, noodles, bakery, bread, fruit, ice tea, not tea, coffee, juice...great choice! The staff were also all exceptionally helpful and friendly. If you stay 2 nights (booking.com) you get a free taxi to the airport - BUT BEWARE the taxi driver may ask you to pay him when you get there. Have the hotel staff tell the driver, in front of you, that it is for them to pay. Or driver called the hotel and it was resolved but I can't help but wonder why this problem still occurs when they are the ones booking the taxi for you anyway. Not a problem anyway. Stay here! The pool is also brilliant, so huge and (I think only on weekends) they have a little poolside bar for those oh-so-needed drinks! The beer seems a bit sad and old though, served from the side and with ice but I would most definitely recommend the passion fruit frozen marguerite! Lovely lovely stay!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bach Duong Hotel; City: Mui Ne Phan Thiet Binh Thuan Province; Review: A bit torn about my feelings for this place. The pool is gorgeous, the beach is right there, our bedroom was a great size, had a tv, fridge, air con and wonderful bathroom with two sinks and sewerage shower. Also a lovely sea facing balcony. BUT there were very VERY noisy building works going on, from 7am all afternoon on and off. Not acceptable. The poolside beds also all had no cushions...so we had to ask a member of staff for them. Breakfast was also total poops. A really sad little display of cucumber, tomatoes ham, bread...not good. Clearly it was low season which meant they couldn't be bothered putting on their normal buffet breakfast but their alternative was not good. They should just do al a carte when it's low season. The pho was average and the omelette came with peppers when we asked for none. The hotel itself is beautiful, and has soooo much potential to be absolutely awesome but at the moment they are letting themselves down. We were hoping to spend 4 nights but only stayed 2 as it was just too noisy :( For us backpackers wanting a nice beach place, value was ok but just a bit disappointing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: United Backpackers Melbourne; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Really enjoyed our stay here. Clean, large spacious rooms. Beds have plugs and bedside lights which is always a must! Drawers under the bed to keep belongings safe (bit small to fit your backpack in whole, some unpacking required but it's a huge drawer) Security good with key cards for entry. Tv room is awesome, huge comfy pillows and good range of channels. Movie night was great! Kitchen was huge, plenty of storage and fridges space, also cleaned frequently which is great. Wifi good and the staff were really friendly and helpful. Bathrooms also large and plenty of cubicles so no queuing! Would happily stay here again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Indie Coffee; City: Madison, WI; Review: One of my favorite coffee spots on campus by far. The location is great and the atmosphere of the actual shop is super fun and enjoyable. I've always had pleasurable experiences and as a huge music person, always appreciate what they've got playing. If you're looking for a cozy, independent, yet totally worth it coffee shop, this is the place!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mickies Dairy Bar; City: Madison, WI; Review: I've never once complained about the wait to get into Mickies because every time it's been more than worth it. I'm not quite Ron Swanson, but I do really really like breakfast food.
I've tried pretty much just about everything Mickies has to offer and I'm a fan of it all. Not to mention the super fun retro atmosphere, friendly waitstaff (who are always super well-trained to handle giant groups), and unique but efficient wall-menu.
If you've never been, you have to go. It's a staple of Madison and I'm pretty living as close as I do shouldn't be allowed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FreshFin Poké; City: Madison, WI; Review: I work on State St and actually had one of their employees walk into our store with a box full of Poke meals for us. They were new to the city and wanted to spread the word about who they were, where they were, and what they had to offer.
It was my first experience with Poke overall, but I was pleasantly surprised and everything about the experience definitely left a positive impression on me. The food was very fresh and really well prepared, I tried the curried shrimp option and was super satisfied. The cuisine definitely hadn't been on my radar but I definitely plan on visiting FreshFin in the near future!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greenbush Bakery; City: Madison, WI; Review: I'm in the UW band and for the past 3 years without fail, every early-morning badger football game day rehearsal, we make sure to bring a box of badger sprinkle donuts for the entire rank.
Donuts are pretty good in general but there's something about Greenbush that sets them apart, let me tell you. They're an old school bakery so they know how to do it right. You bite into one of their donuts and you can taste the careful attention that only a local bakery would give. They truly are some of the best donuts that I've had in my life and I wouldn't ever consider going anywhere else for my sugary needs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Leather Cuff Bracelet with Crystal Owl Charm, Adjustable Wristband with Metal Alloy Buckle, By Regetta Jewelry; Brand: Regetta Jewelry; Review: Good and funny products; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Helikon CPU Men's Shorts Camogrom; Brand: HELIKON-TEX; Review: Good short; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ben Sherman Men's Nick Rubber Oxford; Brand: ; Review: Good product; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cole Haan Men's Copley Derby Oxford; Brand: ; Review: Too large; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ShirtBANC Aztec Bear California Republic Mens Shirts; Brand: ShirtBANC; Review: Good product; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O'Neill Men's Cohen Cargo Short; Brand: ; Review: Good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carhartt Men's Sandstone Waist Overall Quilt Lined Work Pant; Brand: ; Review: Exellen product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KEEN Men's Durand Polar Shell Boot; Brand: ; Review: Good product; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rocky Men's 8 Inch Retraction Steel Toe Work Boot; Brand: ; Review: Good product; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Edsal HC30127 Steel 7-Shelf Shelving Unit, 750 lb Capacity, 30" Width x 60" Height x 12" Depth; Brand: EDSAL; Review: Does the job. very easy to bend. says can hold up to 750lbs I doubt, but i am not trying either; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Leviton 84001-40 1-Gang Toggle Device Switch Wallplate, Standard Size, Device Mount, Stainless Steel; Brand: Leviton; Review: I started looking at switch plates and noticed that anything but white was priced higher. so ordered spray paint of the color I wanted (just make sure you get a kind for plastic) and bam the color and quality. and looks like I paid $$$ for them at out of my league stores....lol; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leviton 07663000561 88001 1-Gang Toggle Switch Wallplate, Standard Size, Thermoset, Device Mount, White, 1-Pack; Brand: Leviton; Review: I started looking at switch plates and noticed that anything but white was priced higher. so ordered spray paint of the color I wanted (just make sure you get a kind for plastic) and bam the color and quality. and looks like I paid $$$ for them at out of my league stores....lol; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Master Lock Keyed Entry Door Lock, Biscuit Style Knob, Satin Nickel, BCO0115; Brand: Master Lock; Review: Sturdy and heavy quality . easy install. Came with options on plates depending the door fitting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rust Oleum 280726 American Accents Ultra Cover 2X Spray Paint, Gloss Seaside, 12-Ounce; Brand: Rust-Oleum; Review: WOW can make things look like they cost a million bucks; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: 2 killed in Southern California wildfires as thousands of evacuees return home; Abstract: Two people have been killed in wildfires in Southern California, authorities said Saturday. As firefighters continued to battle multiple blazes in the region, tens of thousands of evacuees were cleared to return home.; Category: weather
Title: Hunter Biden Steps Down From Chinese Board as Trump Attacks; Abstract: Hunter Biden is stepping down from the board of a Chinese-backed private equity company and promising to forgo all foreign work if his father, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, is elected president in 2020.; Category: news
Title: Boris Johnson Has a Brexit Deal. Now He Needs Parliament's Support.; Abstract: Britain and the European Union on Thursday agreed on the draft text of a Brexit deal, setting up a fateful showdown in the British Parliament on Saturday, where it was not clear that Prime Minister Boris Johnson could marshal the votes to nail down his plan after three anguished and politically damaging years of debate.; Category: news
Title: After Being Found Slumped Over In Car, Police Supt. Eddie Johnson Says He Stopped To Rest After Feeling Faint; Abstract: CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Johnson had pulled over and parked near his home near 34th and Aberdeen around 12:30 a.m., after feeling lightheaded.; Category: news
Title: Lawsuits, payouts, opioids crisis: what happened to Johnson & Johnson?; Abstract: The household name has been hit in recent years with product misfires and court judgments challenging public trust and investor faith; Category: finance
Title: Trump reversed course on hosting G-7 at his club after learning that impeachment-weary Republicans were tired of defending him; Abstract: From the moment the White House announced that President Trump had decided to hold the 2020 Group of Seven summit at his golf resort, it became inextricably linked with his possible impeachment.; Category: news
Title: Florida woman allegedly flees 2 car crashes, kills driver in 3rd crash; Abstract: A Florida woman who killed a 53-year-old man after running a red light and smashing into his Lexus on Saturday morning was in the process of fleeing two earlier car accidents when she caused the fatal collision, police said.; Category: news
Title: Netanyahu says he can't form a government after election deadlock; Abstract: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he could not form a new government after President Reuven Rivlin asked him to try in the wake of a deadlocked election.; Category: news
Title: White House Personnel Director Tells Trump Top DHS Picks Are Ineligible; Abstract: The White House personnel office chief has told President Trump that his top two picks to fill the Homeland Security Secretary job aren't eligible under a federal law dictating who can fill the role without Senate confirmation.; Category: news
Title: Worries grow over the Fed's efforts to fix funding issues; Abstract: The central bank has been working feverishly to address issues that popped up more than a month ago in the repo market.; Category: finance
Title: Bag Explodes While Being Loaded On Volaris Flight At Midway Airport; Abstract: A bag being loaded onto an airplane at Midway Aiport exploded on Monday and the Chicago bomb unit has responded.; Category: travel
Title: 2020 Airstream Caravel Is a Miniature Hotel Room on Wheels; Abstract: Airstream's iconic exterior design and contemporary interior styling makes the Caravel the most fashionable compact trailer at the campground.; Category: autos
Title: Mountain skeleton may be man from Japanese internment camp; Abstract: In the closing days of World War II, a Japanese American set out with other men from the infamous internment camp at Manzanar on a trip to the mountains, where he went off on his own to paint a watercolor and got caught in a freak summer snowstorm.; Category: news
Title: Strange Dog Shows Up On Woman's Lawn And Seems To Recognize Her; Abstract: Kate Howard was sitting outside her home one afternoon after a memorial service when something amazing happened.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Niagara Falls: Boat stuck on rocks 101 years dislodged; Abstract: High winds and heavy rains dislodged the remains of a barge in the rapids above Niagara Falls that had been there 101 years.; Category: weather
Title: Pentagon: Revenue from Syria oil fields going to Kurdish-led forces; Abstract: Revenue from oil fields that U.S. forces are protecting in northeast Syria will go to U.S. partner forces in the region and not the United States, the Pentagon's top spokesman said Thursday."The revenue from this is not going to the U.S., this is going to the SDF," Jonathan Hoffman told reporters at the Pentagon, referring to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.President Trump last week gave the go-ahead for an expanded military...; Category: news
Title: Load up on vintage trucks and SUVs crossing the block in Iowa; Abstract: Classic trucks set to star at Mecum Auctions Davenport sale; Category: autos
Title: One of FBI's Most Wanted fugitives offers surrender; Abstract: One of the FBI's Most Wanted fugitives says he wants to surrender but claims his offers are being ignored by the United States government.; Category: news
Title: Dean Foods files for bankruptcy; Abstract: Dean Foods, America's largest milk producer, is filing for bankruptcy.; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Waste King 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal with Power Cord - (L-3200).; Brand: Waste King; Review: Has plenty of power and is reasonably quiet. Higher pitch that my old Badger 5. Flange opening is smaller than the Badger by ~" I can't get my hand down into the chamber like I could on the old one. The rubber flapper is pretty rigid and doesn't let food down with water spray alone. I tried to clip it between the flaps to see if that helps. My wife hates the shiny chrome "Waste King" sink flange.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chamberlain Clicker Universal Keyless Entry KLIK2U-P2, Works, LiftMaster, Craftsman, Genie and More, Security +2.0 Compatible Garage Door Opener; Brand: Chamberlain; Review: much more reliable than the Genie model I had that kept losing the code; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whirlpool R0181181 Door Closure Kit; Brand: Whirlpool; Review: Seems to be hit or miss with these. Says it works with my amana but they clicked until they broke; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ABN Flexible Hose Clamp Pliers For Fuel, Oil, and Water; Brand: ABN; Review: Works great on large clamps but only works in one orientation on small clamps. Other orientation causes end of tool to slip under single side of clamp and it won't squeeze it open and gets stuck. Spring is so-so for resetting it open. But for the price, it's ok.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sunco Lighting T8 LED Tube Light 4ft 48-Inch. 18W, 5000K Kelvin 2000 Lumens, Pack of 4; Brand: Sunco Lighting; Review: Color is great for garage. Probably be too harsh for indoor. One LED square didn't work on one of the tubes but doesn't really affect the total output. No directions included but pic on Amazon helped. Took away one star for those issues. Don't google directions. Too many different fixture/ballast wiring schematics and LED tubes can be either double or single end wired. These require neutral on one end and hot on the other. Cut all the ballast wires near ballast and remove it. Connect all the tombstone wires from one end to one house lead and all the wires from the tombstones on the other end to the other house lead. Doesn't matter which lead is which end. If the tombstones have a jumper wire just leave it. Make sure ground is still connected. I suggest writing on the fixture "LED ONLY" if you rewire. Wouldn't want someone putting a fluorescent bill in.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyperikon T8 T10 T12 LED Light Tube, 4FT, Dual-End Powered, Easy Ballast Removal Installation, 18W (48W equivalent), 2320; Brand: Hyperikon; Review: One of the bulbs did not work but I contacted Hyperikon directly and they shipped a replacement quickly. Excellent customer service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Afterburn; Author: Visit Amazon's Zane Page; Review: As usual, a page turner with all eroticism you can expect and then some. I can't wait for the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Internationally Known: New York's Finest part 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Kiki Swinson Page; Review: Although events in the book are just like many other "drug game" books. It was a good read and a page turner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A House Divided (Reverend Curtis Black); Author: Visit Amazon's Kimberla Lawson Roby Page; Review: I couldn't get enough of this book and was sad when it ended! Looking forward to the next installment with the Black family!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prodigal Son (A Reverend Curtis Black Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Kimberla Lawson Roby Page; Review: Slow start but when the paced picked up, I couldn't put the book down. Ms Roby has done it again. I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dork Diaries 8: Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Renée Russell Page; Review: Fun read All kids will.enjoy it I recommend it to everyone who likes the Dork series of books. I like reading; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Skechers Performance Women's Go Walk Move Chugga Imprint Bootie; Brand: ; Review: Warm and Comfy! It feels like I'm walking on air. It's warm boot with the comfort of a sneaker.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Performance Women's Go Walk Move Chugga Imprint Bootie; Brand: ; Review: Warm and Comfy! It feels like I'm walking on air. It's warm boot with the comfort of a sneaker.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stride Rite Ultimate Spider-Man Light-Up Sneaker (Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: The sneaker look good in person. My nephew love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 6 Pairs Women's Opaque Spandex Trouser Knee High Socks Queen Size 10-13 (Black); Brand: Sox Market; Review: They fit very well. I purchased two more packs for myself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up2date Fashion Satin Caftans Collection in Many Prints Choices; Brand: Up2date Fashion; Review: Very Comfy!!! Would buy more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Women's Opaque Spandex Trouser Knee High Socks; Brand: Eabern; Review: Fits very well. Will purchase more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel Boys' Spiderman 5 Pack Boxer Brief; Brand: ; Review: My nephew is a major Spiderman fan and he loooove the set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Escape voile style semi sheer tab panels; Brand: Outdoor Decor; Review: Love love love. Would love in another color.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shepherd Hardware 3030 Standard Size Umbrella Hole Ring and Cap Set; Brand: Shepherd Hardware; Review: it's too small; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shepherd Hardware 3030 Standard Size Umbrella Hole Ring and Cap Set; Brand: Shepherd Hardware; Review: it's too small; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mosquito Barrier 2001 Liquid Spray Repellent, 1-Quart – Safe for Kids and Pets; Brand: Mosquito Barrier; Review: as aspected; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Nature 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder; Brand: First Nature; Review: They all seem to leak, I just cannot seem to find the right one; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Perky-Pet 203CPBN Pinch Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder; Brand: Perky-Pet; Review: It was broken; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Robert Forster, Oscar-Nommed Star of 'Jackie Brown,' Dies at 78; Abstract: Robert Forster, a prolific character actor who was nominated for an Oscar for Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" and appeared in more than 100 films, died Friday in Los Angeles of brain cancer. He was 78.; Category: movies
Title: Author Jennine Capó Crucet responds after white college students burn her book; Abstract: Jennine Capó Crucet spoke about her book and white privilege at Georgia Southern University followed by a discussion with students and later saw some burned her book.; Category: news
Title: New Hampshire shooting: Wedding guests subdued suspect after gunfire broke out inside church, police chief says; Abstract: A wedding was underway at a New Hampshire church when a shooting occurred Saturday morning, leaving at least two people wounded, Pelham Police Chief Joseph Roark said.; Category: news
Title: Iranian Women Finally Get Their Moment at a Soccer Match; Abstract: Thousands of women bought tickets to an international soccer match in Iran for the first time in four decades, cheering on the national team in a watershed moment for a daring women's rights movement.; Category: news
Title: 'Ghost kitchens' are taking over fast-food chains from Chick-fil-A to Wendy's; Abstract: Wendy's became the latest fast-food chain to name-check ghost kitchens on Friday at the company's investor day.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: When I Had to Choose Between My Health and How I Worship; Abstract: I never thought my chronic illness would force me to choose between worship and preserving my health.; Category: health
Title: Planning to live on Social Security alone? Consider doing this; Abstract: It's not easy and not advisable, but it's possible in some cases.; Category: finance
Title: Why I stopped shopping at Marshall's and Trader Joe's; Abstract: They're money pits. There, I said it.; Category: finance
Title: Orange vs. White Cheddar Cheese: What's The Difference, Anyway?; Abstract: Americans love cheese, and we're eating more of it than ever: about 37 pounds per year per capita, in fact, more than double what we ate four decades ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Funeral services set for US Rep. Elijah Cummings; Abstract: BALTIMORE (AP) A wake and funeral for U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings will be held next week at the church where he worshipped for nearly four decades. New Psalmist Baptist Church spokeswoman Joi Thomas said in an email that services for the Maryland Democrat are scheduled for Oct. 25. She said the wake will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the funeral at 10 a.m. Bishop Walter S. Thomas Jr., the church's pastor, will deliver the eulogy in the 4,000-seat...; Category: news
Title: Clinton implies Russia wants Gabbard as 3rd-party candidate; Abstract: Hillary Clinton appears to call Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard "the favorite of the Russians" in a recent interview while describing 2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein as "a Russian asset." During a podcast appearance this week on Campaign HQ with David Plouffe, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee did not mention the Hawaii congresswoman by name, but said...; Category: news
Title: Bicyclist struck by van in Queens dies from her injuries; Abstract: A woman hit by a car while riding her bike in Queens last month has died of her injuries -- making her the 26th cyclist to be killed on city streets this year. Ada Martinez, 66, was cycling west along Rockaway Freeway near Beach 94th St. in Far Rockaway when a 2012 Ford E-250 van traveling east smashed into her about 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 27, cops said. Martinez was in the designated ...; Category: autos
Title: Hillary Clinton backs out of DC event also set to include Tulsi Gabbard, Kirstjen Nielsen: report; Abstract: Hillary Clinton has backed out of a Friday appearance at an event also scheduled to include Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, among other guests, according to a report.; Category: news
Title: MLB should suspend Astros' Brandon Taubman to save the World Series; Abstract: Major League Baseball needs to step in and save the World Series. After those in leadership positions with the Houston Astros refused to use the benefit of time and hindsight to cool their emotions and make room for a simple apology, MLB will have to do their work for them and suspend assistant general manager Brandon Taubman.; Category: sports
Title: Marine Corps vet who served in Iraq deported to El Salvador; Abstract: Jose Segovia-Benitez, a 38-year-old Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq, was deported to El Salvador - a country where he hasn't lived since he was a toddler - on Wednesday.; Category: news
Title: The Astros continue to refuse to take responsibility for the Taubman Affair; Abstract: People will be teaching the Astros' response to all of this as a counterexample in crisis management courses for years.; Category: sports
Title: Fired lesbian guidance counselor sues Indianapolis archdiocese; Abstract: Shelly Fitzgerald is at least the third gay former employee of an Indianapolis Catholic school to sue the city's archdiocese this year.; Category: news
Title: 14 Weird Rules Fast-Food Employees Have to Follow; Abstract: Fast food may seem easy, but there are quite a few intricate rules employees have to follow.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Here's What the Serving Size on a Nutrition Label Actually Means (Hint: It's Not What You Think); Abstract: If you've spent your entire life trying and failing to follow the serving size listed on the Nutrition Facts label, we've got some good news for you: serving sizes aren't meant to be a recommendation.; Category: health
Title: Cummings' widow responds to Trump's attacks, gets standing ovation; Abstract: Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the widow of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, appeared to respond to President Trump's previous attacks of her husband during a speech at his funeral.; Category: video
Title: Scandal brings election risk for rising Democratic star; Abstract: California U.S. Rep. Katie Hill has apologized to friends and supporters for engaging in an affair with a campaign staffer, but Susan Slates still feels let down by the 32-year-old Democrat who arrived in Congress just this year. Slates is a beauty salon owner in Hill's hometown of Agua Dulce, a lightly populated expanse of grassy hills and horse ranchettes north of Los Angeles. She tightens her lips when asked about...; Category: news
Title: Man dies after becoming stuck on top of 290-foot tall smokestack; Abstract: A man dangling from the top of a 290 foot smoke stack for more than six hours, apparently suspended only by his pants, died shortly after he was rescued by authorities.; Category: news
Title: The Best Value Meal Deals at 50 Chains Across the Country; Abstract: Some restaurant chains have ditched their dollar menus and other special offers, but there are still many great deals out there. All the big names like McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell have serious money-saving deals you need to check out. But so do many regional chains. Find out what's near you.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: House Democrat and Jonestown Survivor Calls Out GOP Congressman Over 'Cult' Reference; Abstract: Rep. Jackie Speier called Rep. Devin Nunes' comments relating the House Committee and the media to religious cults despicable. The congresswoman was shot five times during the 1978 Jonestown Massacre.; Category: news
Title: Two House Democrats break ranks with Pelosi on impeachment rules vote; Abstract: Two House Democrats broke ranks with their party leadership on Thursday's highly-contentious vote.; Category: news
Title: 21 Frozen Foods You Should Never Put in Your Cart; Abstract: Frozen dinners look like an easy solution to cooking and frozen smoothies and desserts look just plain delicious, but too many are not worth the low cost and ability to microwave and chow down you'll be paying for it quickly in outrageous calories, huge doses of sugars and sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients.; Category: health
Title: 24 Ways to Shrink Your Belly in 24 Hours; Abstract: Look visibly slimmer in a matter of hours with these simple tricks.; Category: health
Title: This Is What Queen Elizabeth Is Doing About the Prince William-Prince Harry Feud; Abstract: According to royal insiders, Queen Elizabeth has directed Prince Charles to put a stop to the feud between William and Harry. Here's why she's so worried.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Why President Trump's kids are probably celebrating his move to Florida; Abstract: The No. 1 reason billionaires decide to move.; Category: finance
Title: For the first time ever, a US cheese is named best in the world; Abstract: Forget the American love affair with Cheez Whiz, blocks of Velveeta and pasteurized processed cheese food slices. An organic blue cheese from Oregon has been named the world's top cheese.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: We Tried Cinnamon Coke And Cranberry Sprite And One Of Them Is About To Become Your New Favorite; Abstract: Here's how we felt about them.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Video captures terrifying moment woman slips at Grand Canyon; Abstract: Emily Koford was visiting the national park with her mom when a step backward left her clinging to the rocks.; Category: video
Title: The Best Live TV Musicals of the Last 10 Years; Abstract: Live TV musicals made a comeback in 2013. From "Sound of Music" to "Peter Pan," we ranked the best broadcast TV musicals we've seen in the past decade.; Category: tv
Title: What Is the Bermuda Triangle, and Do Pilots Really Avoid It?; Abstract: Ever wondered "What IS the Bermuda Triangle?" We answer all your questions about this mysterious section of the ocean and dispel the myths.; Category: travel
Title: The Hospital on a Mission to Bring Home-Cooked Meals to Its Patients; Abstract: Eater's Digest talks to the executive chef at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Jepkosgei wins NYC in 1st marathon, Kamworor takes men's; Abstract: NEW YORK (AP) Joyciline Jepkosgei had never pushed her powerful legs over 26.2 miles. It hardly showed Sunday certainly not as she drove away from marathon veteran Mary Keitany. Jepkosgei upset the four-time New York City Marathon champion to win the women's race, a historic debut that left her seven seconds off the course record. Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya won the men's event for the second time in three years. After pulling away from...; Category: sports
Title: SNL's Michael Che Sparks Backlash for 'Sexist and Ageist' Comments During Weekend Update; Abstract: SNL's Michael Che Sparks Backlash 'Sexist and Ageist' Comments; Category: tv
Title: Felicity Huffman Smiles as She Begins Community Service Following Prison Release; Abstract: The 56-year-old actress was released from prison last month.; Category: news
Title: Bette Midler mocks Lori Loughlin's college admission scandal; Abstract: In a new tweet, Bette Midler pokes fun at Lori Loughlin's involvement in the college admission scandal.; Category: music
Title: Couple Cancels Wedding, Keeps $30K as "Donation" for Honeymoon Instead; Abstract: In a viral Facebook post, a couple announces they're canceling their wedding, but keeping the $30,000 in gifts for a honeymoon instead.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 2 brides lifted a 253-pound barbell together after exchanging vows to celebrate their marriage; Abstract: The photo of Zeena Hernandez, 27, and Lisa Yang, 28, lifting the barbell together in their wedding dresses has since gone viral.; Category: lifestyle
Title: The 8 things you should never do in a fast-food restaurant, according to former employees; Abstract: From filling soda cups with water to letting your child place their own order, there are several things fast-food workers wish you would stop doing.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Missing college student's parents meet with mother of Natalee Holloway; Abstract: Investigators did not call the man a suspect, but said they wanted to identify him and speak with him in connection to Aniah Blanchard's disappearance.; Category: news
Title: 'Dancing with the Stars': Why Sean Spicer survives despite the lowest judge scores; Abstract: A 'Dancing with the Stars' voting fix designed to prevent popularity contests hasn't stopped former Trump spokesman Sean Spicer, leading to criticism.; Category: tv | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lugz Men's Grotto Boot; Brand: Lugz; Review: bought these for my husband for work and every day he says how comfortable they are.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deer Stags Men's Luke Slip-on Loafer; Brand: ; Review: the insole came out my husband said as he walked they would slip out; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ELACUCOS Women Winter Beanie Cabled Checker Pattern Knit Hat Button Strap Cap; Brand: ELACUCOS; Review: This product fits and looks exactly like the picture and the description. This hat exceeded my Expectations it is very well-made, good quality and looks great. I tried to purchase one product and it didn't work I contacted the seller and they were very available and very helpful and I got the product I wanted and it came on time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Osh Kosh Girls' Midweight Heart Print Fleece Lined Jacket; Brand: ; Review: great great great jacket for fall maybe even winter if you wear something underneath. It fits my daughter perfectly she is 32inches and their is room to grow too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angelina Fleece Lined Leggings; Brand: Angelina; Review: They are warm and sort of comfortable. I definitely prefer a dofferent brand; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: U-beauty Elegent Water Drop Opal Pendant Golden Long Necklace Sweater Chain for Women; Brand: Jiandie; Review: Exactly like the picture it's a super necklace.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flexees Women's Maidenform Shapewear Fat Free Dressing Tank 3 Pack Bundle; Brand: Flexees; Review: I love this product I am a large and bought a large and it fits perfectly. The only problem I've had is that when it when you wear it with a certain type of pants sometimes it can roll up but the I just tuck them into my underwear. It really holds you in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: I have searched forever for these socks. I wore them with my loafers back in my high school days. They are so comfy and warm. Wish they came in navy for my husband. So happy I found them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: Mele & Co.; Review: Perfect case for pierced earrings and my granddaughter loved it. She can store all her earrings easily and in one place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stride Rite Kenleigh Flat (Toddler/Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: Sent these as a gift and they were much too narrow . I never saw them but apparently they were quite cute and I am sorry they did not fit,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Connoisseurs Precious Jewelry Cleaner, 8 Fl Oz; Brand: Connoisseurs; Review: Easy to use and you have soarkly jewelry; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IF Pajamas Boys Dinosaur Little Kid Shorts Set 100% Cotton Sleepwear Toddler PJS; Brand: IF Pajamas; Review: The boys loved their pirate pj.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Merrell Moab Ventilator Wide Width Men 11.5; Brand: Merrell; Review: This is the second pair of Merrell Moab Ventilator for my husband. He like's them enough to replace them with the same shoe. I think that should tell you how good it is. Excellent support.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: This is the second pair of Merrell Moab Ventilator for my husband. He like's them enough to replace them with the same shoe. I think that should tell you how good it is. Excellent support.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: This is the second pair of Merrell Moab Ventilator for my husband. He like's them enough to replace them with the same shoe. I think that should tell you how good it is. Excellent support.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sloggers Women's Waterproof Rain and Garden Boot with Comfort Insole, Midsummer Blue, Size 10, Style 5002BL10; Brand: Sloggers; Review: WOW! These are grrrrrrrreat! I wore them yesterday mowing the grass and doing yard work and got them dirty all the way to the top and then just hosed them off when I was finished. I ordered my regular size 8 women's shoe and it fits perfectly. I thought I liked the shoes, and I do, but these boots really serve the purpose for outdoor work. I also buy and wear those two for a dollar yellow plastic gloves that come to mid-forearm (look like the Playtex ones) as they are really good for yard work and now with the boots, I'm the neighborhood yard woman all the other women love to hate because I do my own yard. Update 9-12-12: I did yard work yesterday and again wore my Sloggers Tallboots with my pants tucked into them to keep out ants, spiders, and grass clippings. Because feet sweat inside these rubber boots I would purchase them in a one-half size larger, up to an 8 1/2, to facilitate removing boots from a wet foot which may or may not help. I do it the old fashioned way now, I put the heel of my booted foot on the top stair of the deck and work the boots off. Just hose the boots off and you're done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coolibar UPF 50+ Men's Crushable Ventilated Hat - Sun Protective; Brand: ; Review: My husband absolutely LOVES this hat and he looks pretty snazzy in it too. He says when he is working outside or on a roof with the sun beating down on his head and back that this hat is a life saver. It has a solid top to block the sun but between the top and the hatband is about 4 inches of ventilated material, allowing the air to flow through to cool the head, and also allowing the hat to be crushed flat for travel. The hatband also supposedly wicks the sweat away. Be sure to measure head size and get a perfect fit. The packaging was top notch. It was packed as if sending the most expensive fedora through UPS. One end had popped open and I thought someone had opened it but after closer inspection I realized that a much heavier box had been dropped on it or it was very roughly handled by UPS. Thankfully, it WAS packaged so well, with air pockets, cardboard and form fitting materials. No worries ordering from this exceptional company. Thanks to Amazon for fulfilling for Coolibar. Exceptional!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casio Men's SGW100-1V Twin Sensor Digital Black Watch; Brand: Casio; Review: I bought this for my husband for when he is working inside hospitals or universities and must know directions when there are no windows to indicate where he might be. Hopefully, the compass will be helpful at lower levels. Otherwise, he is very happy with the lightness of it. Saving his very fine and much more expensive two-tone Swiss Army Watch for more dressy occasions. He particularly likes the wrist band because of the light weight and the comfort of the black resin strap watch band. The handy booklet makes it easy to set time, date, temperature, alarm, stop watch, calibrate compass, illuminate face and all kinds of magical things. I researched for two weeks going from highest prices to lowest prices and settled on this one because of the four and five star reviews by men who know. My husband is delighted with his new treasure/toy and keeps finding more that can be done with it. I primarily bought it because he needed a compass. After purchasing a military compass which is very precise with leveler and sight features, it is also quite heavy but will be utilized. This watch, however, has the compass which hopefully will serve just as well if not better in the long run.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sloggers Women's Premium Garden Clog, Geisha Blue, Size 8, Style 260GB08; Brand: Sloggers; Review: My best friend recently gave me a pair of the Geisha Blue Clog Sloggers in size 8. I told her I feel like the little Dutch Girl in my blue shoes. I absolutely love them and am wearing them as I write this. They are extremely comfortable. I also have Sloggers Boots, which are great for yard work and if I were to get another pair of boots I would choose 1/2 size larger for ease of getting on and off, and also another pair of Midsummer Shoes, which my son calls my Hippie Shoes because he thinks it looks like a marajuana plant on the front. They are all wonderful, water proof, and attractive. I have an ongoing pink "Betty's Bag" for little presents I find for my best friend and she has a "Gwen's Goodies" bag for me. We may go weeks or even months sometimes without seeing each other so that when we do we always look forward to not only seeing each other but to our treats. These Geisha Blue Sloggers are my best July treat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair Women's Illumination Full Coverage Contour Bra 75338; Brand: ; Review: I returned for a full refund. This bra has huge cups making me feel inadequate. I tried it on the outside of a tee-shirt and did no adjustments to the straps but I could tell that it would not fit. I should have known because the panties I buy in a size 8 are really too big and I should get a 6 or 7 to properly fit, but I like them a little bloomery. I don't like my bras too big though. As I said it makes me feel inadequate and I like going braless anyhow.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Russell Athletic Men's Dri-Power Open Bottom Sweatpants with Pockets; Brand: ; Review: I ordered five pairs of these Russell Athletic Pants in varying sizes for varying members of my family for Christmas. Who doesn't need an extra pair of warm pants for the cold weather? I particularly like the pockets in that they are a different and less bulky material than the pants and fit flat against the hip without sticking out. Also, they are deep enough to be usable without change or keys spilling out. The fleece material is wonderful with the warmth on the inside where needed and the outside is a nice looking pair of pants to wear anywhere. Russell Athletic is a name you can depend on and I'm glad to find them here on Amazon. Update 1-7-13: I am trying to get back 2 pairs of 4x to return, hopefully without the receipt which I no longer have after Christmas. I have learned that it is very easy to return simply by going online with Amazon and printing off a return label. On the XL sizes we discovered that simply washing and drying in dryer shrinks ONLY the length of the pants leaving them plenty big and roomy - which is a good thing - leaving the pants at a better length with no need to hem. These pants are VERY warm and cozy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sock It To Me Gnomes Knee High Socks; Brand: Sock It To Me; Review: I adore my Gnomes Knee High Socks. They are just too too much. I love them and showed them off to my son today as we went on our weekly lunch outing. I may have to give in and buy the Lady Bug socks I saw earlier. I'm intrigued with these designs and afraid I may become obsessed with collecting ALL of the wonderful socks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair Women's Seamless Brief Panty 13210; Brand: ; Review: Not only do these panties not even come up and cover my belly button, they are like a tight stretchy girdle. I will go back to my Vanity Fair Women's Perfectly Yours Lace Nouveau Brief #13001 of which I have several pair in black and white and as I have stated previously they feel too big which I like, bloomery, if you will. I would not recommend tailored seamless brief panties because of the girdle effect and I would have to buy three or four sizes larger than my size 8. I'm glad I only ordered one pair to try. Out in the garbage. Very disappointed that Vanity Fair would make something so "cheap." Update 3-5-13: I gave these to my best friend who wears a size 5 or 6 panty. She is delighted with my "high price" taste.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Totes Signature SuperDome Auto Open/Close Umbrella, Large Gradated Stripe, One Size; Brand: totes; Review: This is my second Totes Signature Golf Size Auto Open/Auto Close Umbrella in Rainbow colors. I wanted a new one for my car and the old one will be left in the garage for running up the driveway to the mail box and rolling the giant trash can up the driveway in the rain. I can assure you that the auto open/auto close is absolutely wonderful. It covers me and the grocery cart in the rain. Of course, it takes a few minutes to load from cart to car but with the giant umbrella it's much easier and dryer. I manage to get quickly into the car, pull the door as close to closing as I can and hit the auto close button. Then I simply put the closed umbrella in the front floor of the passenger side. One note, you must then push down the handle to allow the velcro closure to wrap around. Of course, I leave mine open in the garage to dry before closing all the way and wrapping the velcro closure around. Oh, and I love the bright, vibrant colors!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Parva; Brand: Merrell; Review: I received these gorgeous dark red little sandals a few days ago and finally it's in the 80s here and I got my first chance to wear them today. I bought them specifically to wear to the salon for my pedicures - which is probably the only time I will wear them. I wore them out to the grocery store for a couple of hours and the tops of my feet are rubbed red. The leather is not lined and as a result, the roughness of the joined or glued leather rubs the skin on the top of my feet. I expect I can fix it with fabric medical tape. However, at $85 I would expect much better from Merrell. The only thing I was worried about with this shoe was the toe thong. I have worn Merrell shoes for years (and rarely other brands) and have several pairs of the Sundew and the sandal style before that one. This is only the second Merrell shoe that I will not recommend in 10 years. I should have just bought rubber flip flops for pedicures. All boxes and wrappings were disposed of last week or I would definitely consider sending these back.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leather Wallet - Thin As a Dime by the Thinnest Wallet Maker in the World; Brand: Allett; Review: My husband has been carrying this wallet for about a week and likes it well enough. He said that it is very comfortable while driving. It also holds all of his credit cards neatly in four pockets. This allows him to put company stuff in a couple of areas and other cards and license in yet another pocket. This wallet holds a LOT of cards as well as two sections for paper money and receipts. I've even hidden a couple of folded up $20 bills for him because he has left the house for a cross country trip with as little as $6 on his person. We're such a credit card oriented country. He even pays for parking at the airport with a credit card. The leather is very thin and lined with seemingly strong nylon and the pockets are reinforced with rubber. If it last a year - good; if it last five years - great! 5-31-13: After carrying this wallet for several weeks, my husband reports that he wishes there was room for more cards. He also says that he MUST stay AWARE of the placement of the wallet in his back pocket and MAKE SURE to turn it upside down with the opening facing down so that the paper money would not slip out through accident or theft.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baggallini Hobo Tote - Lightweight, Water-Resistant Travel Purse With Multiple Pockets and Removable Wristlet; Brand: ; Review: WOW! It's holds a ton. This purse is extremely light weight. The pictures are very deceiving because they have tissue paper or something holding them open to look full. The gorgeous Charcoal with fuschia lining matches my fuschia Merrell Ankle Strap Sandals. I bought it specifically for the all around slip pockets. I always want my sunglasses, bifocals, keys, cell phone and shopping list all within reach without having to open my purse where all the cash and cards are are safely stashed in an Anuschka tri-fold wallet. I am spoiled by a Keen Irvington which has all of the above plus an LED light inside when unfolded. They don't make that one anymore. All's the pity. Back to the Baggallini - I love it! It also has an adjustable shoulder strap or for the more European you are - cross the body and which I have used a giant safety pin to hold the strap at the length I use. I hope they will make one in a DARK RED color. You know, Maroon, Burgundy, Port. Meantime, I will be happy with my Hobo which will also hold my tablet while waiting in doctors offices, traveling, shopping and looking real pretty seeing the pink peeking out. The ONLY thing wrong with this lovely purse is that there is NO ZIPPERED POCKET INSIDE! There is a row of slots to hold credit cards I guess but I don't use it at all and I sure as heck don't use that tiny little zippered thingy, it's too small to hold anything other than change and I took it out and threw in a drawer somewhere. 6-26-13 update: After carrying this for a couple of months I am changing back to my dark red Keen Irvington with zippered pockets AND an LED light inside. Much more functional and safer to carry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baggallini Hobo Tote - Lightweight, Water-Resistant Travel Purse With Multiple Pockets and Removable Wristlet; Brand: ; Review: WOW! It's holds a ton. This purse is extremely light weight. The pictures are very deceiving because they have tissue paper or something holding them open to look full. The gorgeous Charcoal with fuschia lining matches my fuschia Merrell Ankle Strap Sandals. I bought it specifically for the all around slip pockets. I always want my sunglasses, bifocals, keys, cell phone and shopping list all within reach without having to open my purse where all the cash and cards are are safely stashed in an Anuschka tri-fold wallet. I am spoiled by a Keen Irvington which has all of the above plus an LED light inside when unfolded. They don't make that one anymore. All's the pity. Back to the Baggallini - I love it! It also has an adjustable shoulder strap or for the more European you are - cross the body and which I have used a giant safety pin to hold the strap at the length I use. I hope they will make one in a DARK RED color. You know, Maroon, Burgundy, Port. Meantime, I will be happy with my Hobo which will also hold my tablet while waiting in doctors offices, traveling, shopping and looking real pretty seeing the pink peeking out. The ONLY thing wrong with this lovely purse is that there is NO ZIPPERED POCKET INSIDE! There is a row of slots to hold credit cards I guess but I don't use it at all and I sure as heck don't use that tiny little zippered thingy, it's too small to hold anything other than change and I took it out and threw in a drawer somewhere. 6-26-13 update: After carrying this for a couple of months I am changing back to my dark red Keen Irvington with zippered pockets AND an LED light inside. Much more functional and safer to carry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baggallini Hobo Tote - Lightweight, Water-Resistant Travel Purse With Multiple Pockets and Removable Wristlet; Brand: ; Review: WOW! It's holds a ton. This purse is extremely light weight. The pictures are very deceiving because they have tissue paper or something holding them open to look full. The gorgeous Charcoal with fuschia lining matches my fuschia Merrell Ankle Strap Sandals. I bought it specifically for the all around slip pockets. I always want my sunglasses, bifocals, keys, cell phone and shopping list all within reach without having to open my purse where all the cash and cards are are safely stashed in an Anuschka tri-fold wallet. I am spoiled by a Keen Irvington which has all of the above plus an LED light inside when unfolded. They don't make that one anymore. All's the pity. Back to the Baggallini - I love it! It also has an adjustable shoulder strap or for the more European you are - cross the body and which I have used a giant safety pin to hold the strap at the length I use. I hope they will make one in a DARK RED color. You know, Maroon, Burgundy, Port. Meantime, I will be happy with my Hobo which will also hold my tablet while waiting in doctors offices, traveling, shopping and looking real pretty seeing the pink peeking out. The ONLY thing wrong with this lovely purse is that there is NO ZIPPERED POCKET INSIDE! There is a row of slots to hold credit cards I guess but I don't use it at all and I sure as heck don't use that tiny little zippered thingy, it's too small to hold anything other than change and I took it out and threw in a drawer somewhere. 6-26-13 update: After carrying this for a couple of months I am changing back to my dark red Keen Irvington with zippered pockets AND an LED light inside. Much more functional and safer to carry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CASIO Men's MW600F-4AV Black Sport Watch; Brand: Casio; Review: I purchased this very inexpensive but gorgeous watch for myself. After buying Victorinox Swiss Army Field Women's Watch Rubber Sport Strap Date Feature and HOT RED Dial 24999 from another site (Amazon no longer carries it) only to discover that the band was too small, I couldn't send it back but I really do want it. By the time I get around to going to a jewelry store to have a band put on the battery will probably have worn out. This was a much less tiring fix to my dilemma. I absolutely LOVE this gorgeous watch. I don't care that it's a man's watch because it's just right for me! Oh, and the hands REALLY ARE luminescence at night. Makes me feel like a kid with a flashlight under the sheet looking at my new toy. Did I say I love my new watch, well I do. Wow, and a 10-year battery. It may outlast me. I hope not but in 10 years I will simply buy another one or whatever is the current thing then. I purchased a Casio Men's SGW100-1V Digital Compass Twin Sensor Sport Watch from Amazon last year for hubby and he is very pleased with it. The watches are VERY affordable! Update 11-05-14: I've purchased another one of these lovely watches for myself when the price went down recently. I will keep one in the car so that when I forget to put my watch on I will have one because the battery will be good for 10 years, even if it's only five years it's worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Encore Ice Clog; Brand: Merrell; Review: I buy at least one pair of the Merrell Encore a year. I just today purchased this Encore Rhubarb in my Womens Size 8 from Zappos for $77.99. They happen to match a purse I purchased recently from Amazon, a Baggallini Luggage Hobo Tote Bag Charcoal with pink lining peeking out of all pockets and inside. Really nice purse and the shoes will look great with it. My feet always get cold and these Encores are great with or without socks. After the colder winter I just wear them without socks even through the summer. The Rhubard are a little loud in color so I don't wear them out. They are not fuschia pink as I thought they would be but rather a weird violet pink/purple. Funky - so I wear them around the house, up to the mail box and perhaps some yard work. 9-4-13: This past week I wore some 2012 Merrell Encore Ice Clog in Smooth Black Leather. I noticed that my toes were blue. Upon further examination I discovered that the black dye from the black "shearling" lining had come off on my feet. Today I am ordering from Amazon the Merrell Women's Encore Ice Clog in Gull Grey which has a white "shearling" lining. 2-12-14: It turns out that the Gull Grey which are filled with wonderful thick white shearling are very narrow and long. I can't get a size larger or I would stumble over my own feet. This has NEVER happened to me before. I did not return them and wear them in the house with no socks because I don't think I could get them on with socks. After years of Merrell's perhaps its time for another brand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wrangler Men's Rugged Wear Carpenter Jean; Brand: ; Review: It's my fault entirely because I order a relaxed fit that looks all puffy and just awful on my husband. I returned them and are the Classic Regular Fit in a 38x32- same size. I washed and dried them and they shrunk enough that they looked real good on him for about one hour before he had to wear a belt to hold them up. It turns out that I found an old pair of 36x32 that are perfect and he is wearing them this weekend. I also found a stack of 34x32 that he will never be able to wear again and will go directly to a church thrift store along with about 20 shirts that are almost new but too small. The Relaxed Fit was TOO relaxed and was returned for the Classic Regular Fit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wrangler Men's Rugged Wear Classic Fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: It turns out that these are just right when out of the dryer but after an hour my husband must wear a belt with them. I found a pair of 36x32s (that actually fit perfectly!) Wrangler's in his drawer under a stack of 34x32s that are too small. I'm ready to make a donation to a church thrift store with his old pants and shirts that are too small, and face it, we don't ever lose that weight we say we're going to, and if we do, then we can buy some NEW stuff. I bought these to replace an old raggedy pair of jeans that I believe are Dickies that he likes because they have a lower pocket on the right leg that holds his cell phone. I believe they must be painters pants. Well too bad, out they go into the trash. I will have to find out the size and style of those and order them. Meantime, these jeans are fine and look good on him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Overland Equipment Sierra Tote; Brand: Overland; Review: It fits me! The straps fit comfortably over my left shoulder. The purse has pockets on each end big enough to hold a half gallon of milk. I don't think I' exaggerating. There is a big usable open pocket on the back. On the front is a flap pocket with velcro closure which hides more pockets. The first is open and holds my sunglasses and reading glasses, then there are four other smaller pockets to hold pens, cell phones, cards, anything you desire; finally behind that wall of sewn on pockets is another full open pocket large enough to hold a 7" to 8" reading tablet or paperback book. Then on the inside there is enough room to hold my tri-fold Anuschka 1042 PKF Wallet, a large 10.1" tablet or small lap top, plus yet another see-through net zippered pocket along the back wall. This purse is huge without looking huge. It's made of a tough nylon material so is not as heavy as a leather purse would be. The purse is also beautifully lined in a light blue or baby blue, if you will, nylon material as well. The Blackberry color is actually a charcoal gray and somehow matches everything. It is perfect for travel, shopping and just holding my stuff. I looked at it for weeks before deciding to take the plunge to purchase from Amazon's warehouse. Yep! Love it as the price was slightly cheaper. This purse also replaces my beloved Baggallini Luggage Hobo Tote Bag as I discovered my husband lifting my wallet out of said purse in the grocery store one day - drawing my attention to how easily it was done even with my purse strapped into the basket. "Hey Lady, may I help you with something?" Good luck to thieves trying to find the inside of this purse without my shoe on his shin.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair Women's Lollipop Plus Size Brief Panties 3 Pack 15861; Brand: ; Review: These do not fit like the Vanity Fair Perfectly Yours Brief 15712 nor the Vanity Fair Women's Perfectly Yours Lace Nouveau Brief Panty #13001 with those panties being a size too big on me which I enjoy. These cotton panties were a size or two too small. After almost getting a pair on, I took them off, repackaged them, printed out an Amazon Return Form and immediately dropped them off at UPS - all on the same day I received them. From the previous reviews I expected bloomery, puffy cotton panties as from my childhood but it was not to be. I guess I will always wear nylon panties. I am VERY disappointed but refuse to go up to a giant size 10 or so. I gave it two stars simply because they were Vanity Fair but probably made in China.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Jungle Moc Slip-On Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: Merrell Men's Jungle Moc Slip-On,Gunsmoke,13 W is a not so good fit for my son. I wish Merrell made more WIDE and extra-wide shoes. These were a struggle to get on over socks. After a couple of weeks he admitted to me that he could not wear them but was unable to find the box and receipt for a few days but when he did he brought them over to me. We printed off a return label and immediately took them to UPS for a return. The easy Amazon refund only took a few days.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Jungle Moc Slip-On Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: Merrell Men's Jungle Moc Slip-On,Gunsmoke,13 W is a not so good fit for my son. I wish Merrell made more WIDE and extra-wide shoes. These were a struggle to get on over socks. After a couple of weeks he admitted to me that he could not wear them but was unable to find the box and receipt for a few days but when he did he brought them over to me. We printed off a return label and immediately took them to UPS for a return. The easy Amazon refund only took a few days.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Encore Gust Slip-On Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: I purchased these for my son and even though the shoe turned out to be too narrow, it was very easy to print out the return slip and tape onto the same box the shoes came it and run up to the UPS store a mile away and return the same day. If I'm not mistaken, the refund was also processed and credited the same day. I have since ordered a different Merrell shoe in a wide suede material which should arrive today. We are brand loyal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Balance Men's MWM756v2 Country Walking Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Son already left review as these shoes were for him. He likes Merrell but is having a hard time finding the 4E wide shoe. He was very happy with these New Balance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Body Trends Comfy Jeans - Pajama Style Comfortable Jeans; Brand: Body Trends; Review: No where in the description does it state that the pajama jeans have real pockets. I can carry my cell phone and glasses around. The "jeans" fit well but this is my first experience in wearing something like this. I can definitely see running out to the store in these as well as lying around all day with no discomfort. Even at the waist area there is no discomfort. I like for my pants to come above my belly button and these do. A real WINNER in my book. I wish I could also find a lighter color in this same Comfy Jeans. They are a little long but maybe a washing will shrink them a little - but only length wise. I love these stretchy jeans without a zipper. Update 2-5-14: The jeans DID shrink a little length-wise after washing. They also loosened up somewhat and seem to fit bigger on my XL size. Also, I lost the draw string and probably threw it away. I love them though, nice and comfy and are not sliding down as I feared. I'm wearing today with a long kind of sweat shirt with pockets on the front which I usually only wear with pants that have no pockets but the color is so close to the color of the jeans that I am very happy to wear them together. I've got pockets everywhere. Did I say that I love pockets? The jeans have real pockets on front and back. I'm a happy person and may order another pair of these. The material is thin enough I believe they can be worn year round. They seem to be well made. Update 2-15-14: I DID order another pair and did not fair as well. I just automatically threw them in washer and dryer because of my first experience. This pair is MUCH shorter for my 5'6" frame. Today I washed for the second time and did not put in the dryer, but rather pulled them and stretched them as long as I could and hung them over a railing inside to dry. And I think I should have ordered a Large rather than the XL.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taos Women's Hero Dress Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I am now a major Taos fan and plan to order another pair of sandals in a different style. I am also looking at their other style shoes as I have become disenchanted with Merrell shoes in the past year. This particular shoe fits perfectly right out of the box. I particularly like the velcro (hook and loop) closures over the top of the foot and across the top of the toes. If the shoe should be too loose or too tight, it would be easily remedied. Also, the leather straps are lined with a nice soft leather on the inside and the sole is that suede-like material that keeps your foot from slipping and sliding as is the case on some leather. Wonderful design! I also find that this very muted teal green matches a huge Anuschka purse I use a lot which contains every color in the universe with a wonderful background containing lots of the muted teal green color of my new sandals. Big winner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taos Women's Prize Open Toe Slide Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Recently, my husband gave me these sandals for my birthday. The thing(s) I like MOST are the colors of silver, gold and bronze. How can you go wrong? These shoes match anything and everything for me. Also, they are dressy enough to wear for any occasion, particularly comfortable if you are running up and down stairs, if you are prone to stumble, or if you don't want to have to worry about walking around like a 20-year-old model but an older woman who is perfectly comfortable with herself. With the velcro straps, these shoes will fit any foot all the time. Also, I dare say, they are quite sexy and feminine. As far as style goes, I find that I prefer the Taos Hero Dress Sandal, which I have in Teal and plan to purchase in Port.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Athalon Luggage 29 Inch Hybrid Travelers Bag, Grass Green, One Size; Brand: Athalon; Review: I purchased this for my husband who travels frequently and often on airlines. The very reason he chose this particular suitcase of all we viewed is the easy to spot color on the baggage carousel at the airport. If his opinion changes so will the number of stars. Hubby says its the perfect size and has a side handle, a top handle, a front handle, a pull out handle and wheels to roll. He particularly likes the Grass Green and Navy Color.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bali Women's Cool Cotton Skamp; Brand: ; Review: I purchased these several months ago and am pleasantly surprised at the Bali fit of the panties and I am tempted to order more. This has been a change for the better from my experience with this brand 20 years ago. They don't ride up and clothes fit well with these Cotton Skamps with the seam up the back. Love that!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Encore Nova Crystal Slip-On Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: My new Burgundy Merrell's arrived about an hour ago from USPS! Who knew? At any rate, because of some reviews I ordered an 8.5 rather than my normal size 8. Even though it is larger I am growing accustomed to it and don't anticipate any problems. Because this color is my favorite and is so hard to find, I was going to order the size 8 after all. Whoa Nellie! The price on the size 8 had jumped $30 in two days and the size 8.5 has jumped $10. What gives? I will check back at 2:00 AM and see if I can find my size 8 at a respectable price. This is NOT the Merrell Shoe of five years ago; fake shearling lining and the famed arch support is not there and the shoe IS more narrow, noticeably so. I've noticed that in the last three pairs I've ordered. A year ago I got the Gull Gray with real shearling lining but it is so narrow that it leaves an imprint on my feet. Even though THIS shoe doesn't have real shearling lining, it is still comfortable. And until I can find a decent replacement I will just wear the ones I have. I've been wearing my new ones since I opened them up like a child at Christmas! I have 12 pairs, most well worn.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KingSize Men's Big & Tall Lightweight Open-Bottom Sweats; Brand: ; Review: Bought for relative for Christmas. He likes them but is saving them for the end of the world I guess. Maybe he's just trying to spare my feelings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Mens ComfortSoft Jersey Cotton Lounge Pants 1001; Brand: ; Review: I bought for a family member last Christmas. Finally, he told me he loves them and he likes the lighter weight cotton jersey for the summer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bali Women's Skimp Skamp Brief Panty Number 2633; Brand: ; Review: I have one pair of white Skimp Skamps that I purchased a couple of years ago. I particularly like that they can be worn with all styles of pants because they are silky and stretchy and can be worn lower on the belly and legs or higher over belly and legs. Also, I love the seam in the back which allows you to adjust the seam and feel very comfortable, and the panty covers the entire derriere. The colors I wear all the time it seems are white, gray and black. I recently ordered 6 more pairs. I love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CHRISTMAS FLASH SALE! Mabua Anti-slip Breathable Half Socks, Pink 4 Pairs; Brand: MABUA; Review: I ordered four pairs of Pink and four pairs and multi-colored half socks for sleeping. They're perfect to keeps my toes warm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Encore Frill Slip-On Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: These Merrell's are like the Merrell's of old, they fit right out of the box. This is at least my 10th pair. I was unhappy with some unlined leather sandals which rubbed my feet raw but the Encore has proved true to the old ones. Only once did I receive a "narrow" pair of Encore Chill Stitch in Gull Gray which are so tight that they (shearling) leave imprints on my bare feet and I feared Merrell has made changes in their makers and wouldn't buy them for a couple of years. However, these Encore Frill's are PERFECT. I am wearing them now for the second day around the house. I'm back to Merrell. Please don't change anything. There is plenty of room for my swollen, arthritic toes and these shoes are very feminine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Russell Athletic Men's Big and Tall Cotton Jersey Pant with Pockets; Brand: ; Review: Purchased as house pants and PJs for a sick relative. He likes them. Warm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Russell Athletic Men's Big and Tall Cotton Jersey Pant with Pockets; Brand: ; Review: Purchased as house pants and PJs for a sick relative. He likes them. Warm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Encore Ice Slip On; Brand: Merrell; Review: I think Merrell is using a different maker than in years past. These shoes seem slightly more narrow than other pairs of the Encore Ice I have in other colors.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bali Women's Comfort Revolution Convertible Wirefree Bra; Brand: ; Review: Wow! This is a very, very, VERY comfortable bra. I liked it so much after wearing one day - all day, that I came back and ordered three more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Men's Elastic Bottom Sweatpant; Brand: ; Review: Nice house pants or PJs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Akademiks Men's Flatbush Ribbed Sweatpants; Brand: ; Review: Bought as pajamas for a sick relative and I think he likes them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bucket Bag, Midnight, One Size - 42757 360; Brand: Travelon; Review: I really like the purse although I haven't used it yet. I will probably wait until summer because it's a brighter red than I anticipated, more of an orange red than a burgundy red. I love all of the pockets and will change out in the spring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wolverine 3 Piece Bandana Set 22 Inch Square Assortment; Brand: Wolverine; Review: I received this set o bandanas free for my review. Although the material is very thin, I hope it will make it through washing. I especially wanted the American Flag and am grateful to receive it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Moab Waterproof Hiking Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: Because I bought these for my husband to replace a very old comfortable pair (which are 11 D), he felt obligated to wear them even though he says they are smaller and feel tighter. Knowing he had already worn them outside I didn't think I could send them back so I have ordered another pair in a half size larger and wider going from 11 D to 11.5 2E which I'm confident will "fill the bill." He is still wearing the 11 D even though the new ones haven't arrived yet.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PJ Couture Women's Ugly Christmas Footed Pajama; Brand: PJ Couture; Review: I washed it tonight to prepare for the first wear. One of the balls exploded. :( I have a nice fluffy ball and one very flat boring empty ball. Will be returning.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Women's Cotton Pullover Sport Bra(Pack of 3); Brand: ; Review: There's not a lot of support and the girls will move, but for light exercise or just something to wear around the house that's not a constricting bra, these are fine. Compared to a Victoria's Secret Demi 32C bra on the last set of hooks it's about the same tightness around the chest. It's a little bit of a fight to get on and off but the elastic has enough give to get it done.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ball Studs Earrings Jewelry Set - Sterling Silver sizes 2mm to 6mm Men Women; Brand: River Island Jewelry; Review: So far, so good. Usually my ears will itch after an hour if the metal is cheap. I've had these in for more than 24 hours and no discomfort. One earring back is a little tough to position, but the rest of the studs are going on and coming off smoothly. 20171026 Update: I've been wearing these for 20 days now and have had only one issue. Some of the backs don't Quite stay in place and while washing my hair I knocked one of the backs off. Simple solutions - remove the earrings before, be careful when washing, and ensure the backs are in place before an activity that might pull them off. Fortunately the back and earring did not go down the drain!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Men's Value 10 Pack Low Cut Socks; Brand: ; Review: These birthed a litter of fur balls for the first three wears and washes, and we haven't made it to a fourth cycle, yet. The vacuum has been well-fed since this purchase. For that reason alone the mister has put these on the "nope" list.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tidetell Vintage Women's 50s Petticoat Crinoline Tutu Underskirt 26" (FBA); Brand: Tidetell; Review: It's a guessing game when purchasing online. While the elastic does stretch, I don't think a small is going to feel comfortable with a 36" waist, though the sizing chart indicates that's the max stretch. I'm about 28" depending on where I measure and I definitely feel the squeeze. It will expand to a larger size, but it won't fit comfortably. The last medium slip I ordered, though, has to be gathered in because it slips off (ha!) my hips. If you're a 28 or bigger, I'd skip the small. The slip comes turned inside out so the first thing you'll want to do is flip it outside out. To fluff it I held the bottom layer and flipped the slip upside down, letting the top layer fall free and spread out. Then I laid it on the floor and spread both layers out. Lastly I gave it a few bounces while holding it by the elastic. Those steps seemed to fluff it up nicely. I'm still not entirely sure how to wear this thing - it looks cute on everyone else who's posted pictures, but on me it looks silly peeking out from the dress. Maybe it's the socks. It seems to need ironing so that's the next item to figure out. Perhaps ironing both the dress and the slip / petticoat will help. In any event, there was a definite difference between no flouncy fluffy slip and having a flouncy fluffy slip. Someone said they wore two of these things - I can't even imagine! I would feel like I was hiding a dandelion under my skirt! One of these should do fine for lightweight material such as the DRESSTELLS 1950s Retro Audrey Swing Pinup Rockabilly Dress Pleated Vintage Dress Coral S; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anni Coco Women's Classy Audrey Hepburn 1950s Vintage Rockabilly Swing Dress; Brand: Anni Coco; Review: For the price you just can't beat it. I went with the Small. I'm 5'5" and bounce between 130 - 135 lbs with a 32 C. The dress fits great, but getting it off posed a slight struggle. It's not tight anywhere and I even have wiggle room for weight gain. Not much, mind you, but there is a wee bit of room for growth. The part that was tough to wiggle out of is where the waistline meets the bust. That waist seam is sewn solidly and there's no give when removing the dress. The old trick of moving it over the hips and stepping out of the dress instead isn't going to fly if your hips are wider than your bust. I stick with my decision of Small, though. I didn't want to bump up to a Medium and end up with material bunching or pooching. If you are at 33 C I'm going to advise bumping to a Medium. My daughters and mother said the socks were essential to the ensemble so I didn't crop them out of the picture. Enjoy!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alivila.Y Fashion Womens Sexy Satin Vintage Underbust Waist Training Corset; Brand: Alivila.Y Fashion Corset; Review: Don't expect to bend over! I cussed up a storm every time I had to bend to get my purse. :D I've never worn before this a corset and I'll say it was certainly an experience. I got it for two reasons - to wear under a 50's rockabilly dress for a wedding and to help my back (arthritis / scoliosis). It will be sufficient for both purposes. I had no idea the ribbons in the back would allow for so much play. I would have ordered a smaller size had I known. 5'5" 130 - 135 lbs (depending on water retention, curse you Mother Nature!) 32 C (my weight is definitely not in the chest area!). I'm fairly evenly distributed for weight with the typical you're-no-longer-a-teenie-bopper waistline. I'm not heavy, I'm not thin. I have about 1", maybe 2", in the back that I can still cinch up. I had a dickens of a time getting the flippin' closures in the front to work. Doing the top and the bottom means you can't get the middle closed. Doing just the bottom and moving up kind of worked. Closing the top and working down also kind of got the job done. I haven't a clue if that's normal. I do know that closing the top and the bottom first made it to were the middle closures would not move at all. I'm sure I looked something like a gorilla attempting to knit while I was wrestling with the closures. It was slimming for sure and it felt nice not to have the tummy pooch when I bent over, though as I said, bending over caused me to cuss because there's little mobility - I was rather robotic. As far as helping my back, yes, yes it did. I felt a definite relief as the corset prevented me from slouching and offered spinal stability. Normally I get pain radiating through my back when we go over bumps in the car but today it didn't bother me. Would an official back brace type thing work better? Probably. Would it be as fashionable? Certainly not! It looked pretty darn cute with jeans and though I opted to wear a conservative shirt over top of it today, I do have a gothy blouse this would look nice over. That was an added bonus as I didn't even consider that initially.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Beginning With a Bash; Author: Visit Amazon's Alice Tilton Page; Review: The first book in the series. It was actually written much earlier than the rest of them, and before her more famous Asey Mayo became a success. She resurrected the character, writing under a pseudonym, in order to make some more money during the war years. This is the only book in which Witherall himself isn't suspected of a murder. The other old standbys (Haseltine, the Octopus of Fate, Cannae) do not make their appearance. Therefore it's not my favorite book in the series, but it is an excellent introduction. It's the middle of winter, and Witherall is working as a janitor in a bookstore, his pension from the boys' academy where he taught having disappeared during the stock market crash. A young man, out on bail after being framed for a crime he didn't commit, wearing only a thin suit and carrying a bag of golf-clubs (Taylor originated the MacGuffin long before Hitchcock!) enters the shop to evade a cop who's intent on returning him to jail. Within a few minutes, one of the people in the shop is bashed on the back of the head and killed. Coincidentally (yes, coincidences abound in the Witherall books) it's the same person who framed our young hero. Witherall, confident in his ability to solve the crime, takes the young female owner of the shop and the young man in tow, and proceeds to deal with gangsters, oafish policemen, and fiendish professors of anthropology in short order.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Penhallow; Author: Visit Amazon's Georgette Heyer Page; Review: I have to totally agree with the above review. This book is excellently written! It is similar to Agatha Christie's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' - only Heyer wrote her version about 5 years earlier. An old man is the tyrant of his household. When he is murdered, everything comes apart. Georgette Heyer conveys the emotions of dispair and hopelessness and regret much better than Christie does in her version. The murderer thought things would be better, they're not, but the old man can't be brought back to life again. I didn't like it because I like more light hearted books - and this is not Heyer's normal light-heartedness, admittedly, but it is very well written.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Why Shoot a Butler?; Author: Visit Amazon's Georgette Heyer Page; Review: A young lawyer on the way to visiting friends makes the mistake of trying a short cut. He gets lost, and as he tries to find his way comes across a dead body (a butler) in a car. A woman is standing beside it - did she kill him? Characters aren't really likeable in this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Exit the Milkman; Author: Visit Amazon's Charlotte MacLeod Page; Review: As most writers grow older, their skills diminish. So with Enter the Milkman. A lot of the book is padding - each character repeating the same thing over and over again. MacLeod's books are humorous mysteries and the humor is there but the mystery is not that taxing. Her earlier books are masterpieces, so get this one to fill out the set.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Charlie Chan at the Movies: History, Filmography, and Criticism; Author: Visit Amazon's Ken Hanke Page; Review: This is the definitive book on Charlie Chan. Criticism, insight and history by Ken Hanke, one of the leading writers in the field today. Also profusely illustrated. If you are a Chan fan, this is the book you must have. (Oh...that 'list of killers' thing. Hands up everyone who wants to know who the killer is in a movie before they've seen it.); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Films Of Vincent Price (Citadel Film); Author: Visit Amazon's Lucy Chase Williams Page; Review: This book is THE guide to Vincent Price's films, and until his daughter's bio was just published - had the most complete info on his life as well. It's everything you'd expect within the format of the Complete Films of... series, and lots more! Lots of photos, lots of info - Vincent Price fans must have this. Lucy Chase Williams was a friend of Price's, a fan, even - but anyone who reads this book will know she has done full justice to him. Get this one, get Victoria's book - there's SOME good stuff in the Midnight Marquee book as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Price Page; Review: This is an excellent, engrossing book about one of my favorite actors, Vincent Price. I found the story of his last years terribly, terribly sad - and it's a lesson to everyone - don't lose sight of your family when you're on the way up, because you'll regret it when its too late to do anything about it. Mr. Price had a great life, and his legacy will live on with his fans, family and friends. My only complaints are two: As an old-time radio fan I wanted much more on Price's radio work, and when are we going to get the Art Book that was the genesis for this biograpahy? Thank you Victoria, and thank you, Vincent Price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Charlie Chan Film Encyclopedia; Author: Visit Amazon's Howard M. Berlin Page; Review: Hanke's book has major errors, says an unnamed reviewer. Oh, please. There were mebbe 4 mistakes in the book, one a typo, one an ignorance of the language of a lost film, etc, and the other two so insignificant I can't even remember them! Hanke's writing can't be beat, and someone's got to be desperate to trash it in order to boost another book!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Superman The Dailies: Strips 1-966, 1939-1942; Author: Visit Amazon's Jerry Siegel Page; Review: These comic strips are a document of their times. Violent and chauvanistic. Superman terrorizes one criminal into having a heart attack, which doesn't stop him from giving the same treatment to another criminal. Lois Lane strives to get off the LoveLorn page - "Stay there, it's safer." Makes you want to grit your teeth. Doesn't mean these strips should be censored or made 'politically correct.' Not at all. Read, and realize how far we've come. But - how far have we come??; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sea Hunters II; Author: Visit Amazon's Clive Cussler Page; Review: When writing a work of fiction interwoven with historical fact, the author(s) really should provide an appendix clearly separating the two. I mention only two examples from this book. The White Bird was a plane that has never been found, yet Cussler writes authoritatively on exactly how the two men died, from one man getting the top of his head cut off to the other having his back broken and sinking beneath the waves. Second is the Marie Celeste, where he has the crew get into a boat to escape what they believe to be a sinking ship, how they become separated from the ship, and a chronology of how each one of the crew dies. Now, reading his attempts to discover the wrecks is interesting, but I wish he'd not tried the fiction parts of it which really do invalidate this book as a serious source.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor: The Movie and the Moment (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook); Author: Jerry Bruckheimer; Review: A book about Pearl Harbor, the Movie should be a book *about* Pearl Harbor, the Movie! Here, there are a few pages of cast bio in the front, and about 20 pages of information of how the movie was made at the back (well, a paragraph or two of information per page, and lots of photos). In between is the 'real' history of the attack on Pearl Harbor...but it is illustrated by scenes from the movie - which really bore little relationship to the actual events and to use them to illustrate those events is horrible! At the very least, a photo of the real General Doolittle should have been put beside that of Alec Baldwin (who portrayed him) a photo of the real Genda beside that of Tagawa, who portrayed him), etc. This book succeeds neither as a history of Pearl Harbor, nor as a Making of the Movie.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fellowship of Fear (A Gideon Oliver Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Aaron Elkins Page; Review: I've got three of these Dr. Gideon Oliver books on the Kindle, and enjoyed them all. Two of them, including this one, have only minor typos in a couple of places - run on paragraphs, a couple of words where the OCR didn't pick the words apart properly, etc. So from the "reading on a Kindle" standpoint, I'd say just one pinch short of excellent. I had read other books in the Oliver series before finding this one, so it was a bit of a surprise to find it more of a "spy thriller" than anything else. And in one sense I found the ineptitude of the KGB and the CIA a bit ridiculous...but then, you know, I got to thinking.... considering how inept the ATA is at their very important job - and how they're *continued* to be allowed to be inept ....I got to thinking that Elkins portrayal of this ineptitude wasn't so much ridiculous as all too probable. An enjoyable book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Circular Staircase (Dover Mystery Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roberts Rinehart Page; Review: I write blog reviews for The Kindle Blog Report, and am branching out into reviewing books available for Kindle. Mary Roberts Rinehart is most famous for her book The Bat, but few know its history. First off, she wrote a book - this book - The Circular Staircase (1908), in which two eldelry women move into a house, from whence *someone* then starts trying to drive them out. This was Rinehart's first book. That book was so popular that it was written into a play, given an additional character, and renamed The Bat. The play proved so popular, that Rinehart then wrote *it* into a book, entitled The Bat (1920). The books are just different enough to be worth reading each. They are fun, dated (I like dated material, learning how people of the time really lived), race-conscious (some terms for minorities, used rarely here, are found offensive today, but were common place then) Mary Roberts Rinehart wrote over 20 books, mostly mysteries, of the "Had I But Known" school, which she invented. This is the first book in her ouvre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works, Deluxe Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Edgar Allan Poe Page; Review: I write blog reviews for The Kindle Blog Report, and am branching out into reviewing books available for Kindle. Since the publishers of this ebook don't list its contents I'll list them for you here (I THOUGHT this and the other books had hotlinked TOCs, but I was wrong. THey have an underlined TOC, but you cant' do anything with it): The Devil in the Belfry Lionizing X-ing a Paragraph Metzengerstein THe System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether How to Write a Blackwood Article A Predicament Mystification DIddling THe Angel of the Odd Mellonta Tauta The Duc de L'omelette THe Oblong Box Loss of Breath The Man that was Used Up THe Business Man THe Landscape Garden Maelzel's Chess Player THe power of Words The Colloquy of Monos and Unas The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion Shadow, A Parable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume One; Author: Edgar Allan Poe; Review: I write blog reviews for The Kindle Blog Report, and am branching out into reviewing books available for Kindle. Since the publishers of this ebook don't list its contents I'll list them for you here (The book itelf does have the TOC hotlinked): Edgar Allan Poe (bio) Death of Edgar Allan Poe (bio) The Unparalleled Adventures of one Hans Peall The Gold Bug Four Beasts in one - the homo-camel-leopard The Murders in the Rue Morgue THe Mystery of Marie Roget THe Baloon-Hoax Ms Found in a Bottle The Oval Portrait; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot : And Other Observations; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Franken Page; Review: So obviously I don't like this book - but that doesn't mean I don't think it shouldn't be read. In order to make a decision about anyone, you need to see both sides of the issue. Then, it should be easy to see that issues are black and white, someone is right and someone is wrong. I lean a little on the side of Rush Limbaugh. If you've got a Kindle, check out The Rush Limbaugh Report. "I listen to Rush Limbaugh, so you don't have to." Heh heh. Okay, I just wanted to get in that line, which I think is a clever one. But seriously, before making any judgments about Limbaugh, actually listen to his program for a couple of weeks. Yes, he has some annoying schticks, but overall he makes a lot of sense - if you're the kind of person who dreams of America not as it ever was but as it was supposed to be - the ideal, Americns of all races, creeds and colors, legal immigrants, et al, standing on their own two feet and making this country great.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hollywood Buzz (Pucci Lewis Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Margit Liesche Page; Review: I picked this up at the WASP Museum in Sweetwater, TX and enjoyed it a great deal. I didn't realize it was the second in a series until I checked it out here, however. I'll have to get the first one PDQ Highly recommended. My blogs Winged Victory: Women in Aviation; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Shangri-La: Escape from a Hidden World - A True Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Mitchell Zuckoff Page; Review: I'd like to give this book only 3-and-a-half stars - unfortunately the Amazon interface allows only full stars to be awarded. Lost in Shangri-La tells the fascinating story of two men and a woman (a beautiful woman, mark you) who survived a crash in the middle of the jungle of New Guinea. Because of the remoteness of the area, and the impenetrableness of the jungle, it took seven weeks to rescue them. Author Mitchell Zuckoff tells the complete story of the rescue. Because I'm a chronologist, I disliked the opening chapters of the book,which didn't begin in chronological order, with pilot Myron Grime's discovery of a spot he called "Hidden Valley," it's subsequent exploration - by air - and then the eventual crash of the military plane with 24 people aboard, only three of whom survived. (One a beautiful woman, mark you.) Alright, I suppose I shouldn't wax sarcastic about the descriptive copy that finds it necessary to make sure everyone knows that the WAC who survived was beautiful - the author of the book doesn't necessarily write the backmatter. In any event, the story itself is fascinating, and once the author actually gets into it, it's well told. It's difficult to keep up suspense when the reader knows the outcome of the story - but Zuckoff writes so well, and swaps back in forth between the survivors and their attempts to continue to survive, and the men tasked with rescuing them, that the suspense does build until the stranded survivors are finally rescued.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Shangri-La: Escape from a Hidden World; Author: Visit Amazon's Mitchell Zuckoff Page; Review: I'd like to give this book only 3-and-a-half stars - unfortunately the Amazon interface allows only full stars to be awarded. Lost in Shangri-La tells the fascinating story of two men and a woman (a beautiful woman, mark you) who survived a crash in the middle of the jungle of New Guinea. Because of the remoteness of the area, and the impenetrableness of the jungle, it took seven weeks to rescue them. Author Mitchell Zuckoff tells the complete story of the rescue. Because I'm a chronologist, I disliked the opening chapters of the book,which didn't begin in chronological order, with pilot Myron Grime's discovery of a spot he called "Hidden Valley," it's subsequent exploration - by air - and then the eventual crash of the military plane with 24 people aboard, only three of whom survived. (One a beautiful woman, mark you.) Alright, I suppose I shouldn't wax sarcastic about the descriptive copy that finds it necessary to make sure everyone knows that the WAC who survived was beautiful - the author of the book doesn't necessarily write the backmatter. In any event, the story itself is fascinating, and once the author actually gets into it, it's well told. It's difficult to keep up suspense when the reader knows the outcome of the story - but Zuckoff writes so well, and swaps back in forth between the survivors and their attempts to continue to survive, and the men tasked with rescuing them, that the suspense does build until the stranded survivors are finally rescued.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways; Author: Visit Amazon's Earl Swift Page; Review: In his foreword, author Earl Swift talks about a cross-country trip he made with his daughter and her school friend. On the way from east to west he travelled via the lesser roads, stopping in at every small town that took his fancy. On the way back, he was tired, and made the trip via the highways (the "Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways) on which he could drive 70 mph the entire trip, and relax, and made great time on the way back. (And once he reached home, discovered that he had no photos, no memories to savor of that return trip, only those on the way out.) It brought to my mind my own half-cross-country trip of a couple of years ago. I drove from Hampton Roads, VA to Cheyenne, WY and back, in a circular way, coming back through Texas. I took the highways all the way, but I also got off at every exit sign that advertised a tourist site, or a restaurant I'd never been to before, and of course to get gas. It turned into a rather melancholy trip, as all the faded blue signs I saw had at least one or two bright blue oblongs on them - the place where an advertisement for a tourist site or business had been, but must have closed down because of the miserable economy. And of course when I got back to Virginia it was just in time for a third of that state's Rest Areas to close - citing budget woes. (Virginia is now known as the Hold It state.) I've now moved to Wyoming permanently, and had hoped to do some driving to the other part of the country - Idaho, Washington State, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and back to Wyoming, but gas has just hit $3.50 here and is over $4 in California...so that dream is pretty much on hold... I found the Big Roads fascinating, as I'd always wondered how that highway system came to be. At every rest stop I'd see signs proclaiming it as the Eisenhower highway, but that's all it'd say, it never gave details. I'd always intended to do research on it - thankfully with The Big Roads I got all that info in one stop! Earl Swift has done thorough research into the history of the highway program - the idea and plans were actually developed during Roosevelt's tenure, just carried out through Eisenhower's. He writes well and intriguingly, in a somewhat colloquial tone that makes it sound like a "people's history" rather than an "official," dry-as-dust history. He tells of the people who brought the plan to fruition - the designers, the engineers, the construction people. He tells of those who tried to stop the vast march of the highways, as of course lots of land had to be bought up in hundreds of cities so that the highways could either go through or around them. The proliferation of gas stations, fast food restaurants and hotels along the routes were mourned by some. Swift talks about the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Economics of Good and Evil: The Quest for Economic Meaning from Gilgamesh to Wall Street; Author: Visit Amazon's Tomas Sedlacek Page; Review: In Ayn Rand's 1957 opus Atlas Shrugged, a character thinks back to an oak tree in his youth. It had "always stood there, it would always stand there." It was a symbol of strength. One day a lightning bolt hits the tree and splits it in two, and it turns out the tree has been dead for decades - inside the large, strong-looking trunk was emptiness...the tree had just been a hollow shell. Rand used it as a metaphor for the United States then, and it could be used for the United States now. The United States has long been thought the wealthiest country on the planet, and perhaps it was, once. But now we are borrowing millions of dollars a day just to keep the country running, and our creditors are other countries, as for example, communist China. Not only are several of our cities teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, but several states as well. This type of thing does not happen in the wealthiest country in the world..at least not one that expects to be wealthy for much longer. My knowledge of economics was developed through a reading of Atlas Shrugged, in which capitalism is depicted as good and socialism and communism as evil. Indeed, that's the thing about good and evil -- it all depends on your point of view. To the socialist or communist, capitalism is regarded as evil. In those small pockets of capitalism that still exist in the US, socialism and communism are regarded as evil. I picked up Economics of Good and Evil, by Tomas Sedlacek, because the title intrigued me. I wanted to see what method of government (and thus, of economics) figured in Sedlacek's work as good, and which as evil. Sedlacek's book is divided into two sections. In the first, he looks at economics n myths, religion, theology, philosophy and science. In the second part, he reverses the view - looking for myths, religion, theology, philosophy and science in economics. His goal isn't to "examine every moment that helped change later generation's economic perceptions of the world, it is to look at the stops in the development, either at certain historical epochs or at significant personalities that influenced the development of man's economic understanding." What he's doing in this book is "charting the development of the economic ethos." As a layperson with only a very general knowledge of economics, I found the book densely written, meaning that I couldn't relax at any time. I had to poured over the work, making use of my dictionary on occasion, as there were several technical terms to look up. (I prefer to look up words, rather than try to understand them based on the context in which they are used.) Sedlacek talks of much more than economics and its history, but also the history of science, stories, and religion. (But not government.) The book has a limitation. The author deals only with Western economics - not considering Confucian, Islamic, Buddhist or Hinduist countries and the legacies of their economics. But surely it would be; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No He Can't: How Barack Obama Is Dismantling Hope and Change; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin McCullough Page; Review: I'm a Republican, and a woman, and I believe in most Republican principals. But I'm also an atheist and believe in gay rights (the right for them to be treated as equals under the law, as all people deserve.) I therefore found McCullough's book interesting but flawed. As a listener of Rush Limbaugh, I'd heard most of McCullough's talking points before (the book is divided into 21 chapters, each one referencing a specific item on the Obama agenda, from "Tall Tales About Taxes" to "Punishing the Wealthy, Despising the Poor," to "Re-creating Culture with Rainbows and Fairies" to "Re-Creating Family: An All-out Assault on Morality" to "Purposeful Dependency Ushers in Powerful Domestic Deception") and while I agree that Obama's purposes are pretty obvious, it has to be said that a few (a very few) of Obama's policies aren't that bad. His foreign policy sucks, yes, as does his economic policy - but frankly I'm all for abortion, both here in the US and abroad. What's better, a baby that is born, lives a miserable life as he or she starves to death and dies in a couple of years, or that that child is never born at all to go through all that suffering? McCullough is also a very religious man and much of the policies he wants (as do the evangelicals) is driven by that Christian religion, and while the Christian religion is certainly not as bad as the religion of Islam, as far as being a free-speaking, free-acting woman is concerned, that just goes to show why religion should be kept out of politics. I don't want Sharia law in the United States, but nor do I want Christian evangelical law. (On the other hand, the ten commandments in front of a government building - why not? A cross to commemorate our war dead? I'll bow my head there reverently to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to give me the freedoms I have today. *Some* atheists are wound too tight in that regard, but most of us aren't.) I would have preferred McCullough to make his book a straightforward one - just the facts, please. Leave the sarcasm out of it (he sounds a bit like Limbaugh in that regard. That's okay for the radio, I *suppose*, but in reading a book dealing with our president - any president, I don't want sarcasm, I want facts and the proof behind those facts.) This book has no index. There are Notes at the back of the book, providing the references to some of the things McCullough asserts in each chapter, but I'd prefer if he's eschewed the Notes and put that material right into the text, as proof of some of his assertions. Don't get me wrong - this is a must-read book. But it's only a starting point. There are 21 chapters, each focusing on a topic - our taxes, Obama's anti-Americanism, etc. The interested reader - whether you are part of the "choir" or someone who just wants to see what "the other side" thinks - must; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skyjack: The Hunt for D. B. Cooper; Author: Visit Amazon's Geoffrey Gray Page; Review: The mystery of B. D. Cooper continues to intrigue people to this day. Did the mysterious hijacker manage to escape and spend his ill-gotten gains in a subsequent life of luxury 40 years ago, or did he die somewhere in the middle of the wilderness into which he'd parachuted, badly injured and with nothing but the money to comfort him as he waited for the end? I was intrigued, and so I began to read Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper with anticipation. Unfortunately, that anticipation was quickly dispelled. I simply did not like the author's style of writing. I like books that are straightforward, retelling events in a chronological manner. I don't like it when the author inserts his or her own personality into the narrative. It talks about the people who "could" have been D.B. Cooper (and of course, the whole D.B. Cooper thing is a misnomer. The hijacker used the name Dan Cooper.) The opening paragraph set the tone: Skipp Porteous wants to talk and says can we meet and I say fine. He arrives in a suit that is South Beach white, and between the wide lapels is a t-shirt that is snug and black. He has leather sandals on his feet, no socks. His hair is curly and brown. His goatee is trimmed and grey in spots. He removes his sunglasses, which reveal baggy eyes, and gives the room a looky-loo. That's the opening paragraph. The author is writing in the present tense, which I dislike, and what the heck is a "looky-loo"? Nevertheless, I persevered, for as long as I could, but found a text that was disjointed and uninvolving. I can't recommend this book, therefore.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice, 2nd Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Cormac Cullinan Page; Review: Many people criticize animal activists for caring more about animals than people. I had always disagreed with that - it's just that human beings are - or at least should be - able to take care of themselves, whereas animals need help. Fish on a reef, for example. If the reef dies, they'll go elsewhere. Human beings? If a reef where they've done their fishing dies - because they poured bleach into it to make the lobsters or other creatures come out, making them easier to catch - the people stick around the reef, and instead of subsistence fishing, get their subsistence from the government. But after reading Wild Law and looking up the movement, I can see I was wrong...it does seem like there are people who care more about animals than people. Not only animals, but also plants, even microbes, apparently. I was reminded of the folks in India, who are starving because they won't eat their sacred animal, the Brahma bull, or wild monkeys who are allowed to run loose in the city of Delhi because they, too, are sacred, and so can't be killed. The author of Wild Law, Cormac Cullinan,isn't motivated by religion, but rather by politics. He perceives capitalism as evil, and blames all the ills of the world on it. And one way to destroy capitalism is to start giving rights to animals - which is one thing, at least for the creatures like sea turtles, dugongs, and lions and tigers! - and green grass and trees, which is quite another. Frankly, this book is essential reading. Capitalism is under attack and this book is a manifesto of one of the prongs with which "they" intend to destroy it. We can't fight back unless we know exactly what they intend to accomplish, and this book sets it out clearly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diary of an Eco-Outlaw: An Unreasonable Woman Breaks the Law for Mother Earth; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Wilson Page; Review: I found this book fascinating and a little frightening. The author, Diane Wilson, writes the way she speaks - in a "folksy" manner that Sarah Palin ("you betcha") is mocked for, but which really carries this narrative along. You're with her every step of the way, as she does battle with Union Carbide (of Bhopal, India infamy) and Formosa Plastics (founded in Taiwan, has had several plant explosions in the US which have killed workers and negatively impacted nearby neighborhoods, and has dumped mercury-laden waste in Cambodia that has killed a few people and sickened a lot more.) This diary covers events in Wilson's life from the 1980s until the 90s (her efforts against BP are not covered here). The first chapter covers her background (and is presumably a recap of her first book, An Unreasonable Woman (I haven't read that one)) and then we plunge into her efforts on behalf of the Union Carbide victims in Bhopal, which spans decade, as well as the fight against Formosa Plastics. Big business *is* poisoning this country, and the world-- though I don't think I'd go so far as to call the businessmen psychopaths, as Derrick Jensen, author of the Foreword does-- andhow can they be stopped? By going on hunger strikes, demonstrating during press conferences (as she did during the first BP press conference in 2010) and so on, Wilson breaks the law to bring awareness to the "little folk" about what big business is doing - to our neighborhoods, our cities, our ocean (there is only one!), our planet. Has she made a difference? If you read her book, and feel yourself impelled to do something about the issues she raises in her book, then she'll be a success. It's like that story of a kid walking along a beach throwing back sand dollars. There's thousands of sand dollars who will die, he can save only a few. "Why do you bother?" asks an onlooker. "There's too many to make a difference." And the boy tosses back a sand dollar and sauys, "I made a difference to that one." Environmental activists are made fun of these days, but if you read this book - the stories she tells which you can verify - you will find out that they are in the right and are truly heroes. But find out for yourself. Read this book...do the research...take action.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Survive the Titanic: The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay; Author: Visit Amazon's Frances Wilson Page; Review: What would *you* do if you were a man on a sinking ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and you knew you had only two choices - get into a lifeboat or die? It's easy to sit in an easy chair and think, "Oh, I'd stay on deck and light a cigarette and heroically await death," but unless you're put in that situation, you'll never really know. J. Bruce Ismay was put in that situation, and he chose life. But then, so did hundreds of other men - more demonstrably cowardly than Ismay. (18 lifeboats were launched, all of them half-full. Only two of them went back to rescue survivors yelling for help - albeit briefly -in the water. The rest refused to try to help for fear of being swamped. 192 crewmen were in those boats, the most of all people saved (but still, only 22% of the total crew). Next was 140 women from first class - all but 4 of whom were saved. 57 out of 175 men from first class were saved. ) So when it comes to cowardice and heroism on the Titanic, there's a lot to go around, but author Frances Wilson has decided to focus her work solely on Ismay - perhaps as the most high-profile man who survived, and the actual owner of the White Star line which owned the Titanic. What Wilson brings new to the story is the involvement of Joseph Conrad (author of Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness, Nostromo and many more). He wrote "stories and novels, predominantly with a nautical setting, that depict trials of the human spirit by the demands of duty and honor." Lord Jim, published in 1900, features as protagonist a ship's officer who, along with the rest of the crew, abandon the passengers of their sinking ship to its fate, as they take to the lifeboats without bothering to rescue anybody. In How to Survive the Titanic, Wilson draws some parallels between Ismay and that fictional character, and indeed, with Conrad's work in general and the behavior of those on board the Titanic. Conrad's story, interweaved, takes up at least a fourth and perhaps a third of it. The book begins with the ending of the Titanic...its sinking and what Bruce Ismay testified he did and didn't do, and why, interpolated with the testimony of others at the Board of Inquiry. (Since few of the survivors knew what Ismay actually looked like, their testimony as to his behavior as the last of the boats were lowered is suspect.) Indeed, eyewitness accounts from the survivors are rife with contradiction, testifying not only to the unreliability of eyewitnesses but also to the great emotional pressure they were under, and perhaps the later pressure put on certain members of them (i.e., the crew) to exonerate Ismay's behavior. (One may forgive Ismay's getting into a lifeboat - to me it was his failure of leadership while in that lifeboat that counts against him. How many more people could that lifeboat have saved if he'd taken charged and ordered; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shakespeare Thefts: In Search of the First Folios; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Rasmussen Page; Review: To fully appreciate "The Shakespeare Thefts," you must read Chapter Two, "First Folio Hunters," first. It is in this chapter that author Eric Rasmussen explains who he is and how his team's decades-long search for First Folios came about...and what they were actually doing - cataloguing every single teeny tiny piece of information on every copy they could find. Such a catalog would be valuable to a variety of people, such as historians interested in old books, genealogists, and so on, but in particular to law enforcement who could use this catalogue (the 600,000 word book is entitled The Shakespeare First Folios: A Descriptive Catalogue and is scheduled to be published in 2012 and cost over $200) should any more Folios be stolen and attempts made to hide their provenance. So read Chapter Two first, then go back to Chapter one and read on from there. Whoever decided to make this important and introductory chapter, Chapter 2 instead of Chapter 1, should be severely chastised. Joining a fiction novel "in media res" is one thing, but in a non-fiction book of this nature, it's just silly.) Anyway, while compiling their catalogue of First Folios, author Eric Rasmussen and his team learned lots of fascinating history on the ownership/loss/theft of these books, and he shares selected anecdotes here. He writes well and the stories are fascinating - I only wish there were more of them. There are 232 surviving copies of the First Folio (that are known about), we get about 20 stories. Throughout the book, Rasmussen occasionally comments that "leaves" from the book have been found. He never explains, as far as I could see, how it was possible for these leaves to be found. Were they torn out of bound books, or what?) The First Folio is a huge volume - 14 X 8 X 3, but when it was sold in the 1600s, it was sold *as leaves*, i.e. in an unbound condition. The purchaser would then make his own arrangements as to what kind of binding he or she would like. So that explains that! Most books were probably bound, but it was cheaper to leave the book unbound (although anyone who could afford to purchase this humongous volume back then, could have afforded to have it bound as well!) Apart from a few minor hiccups of that nature, this is a fascinating book, highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The God Species: Saving the Planet in the Age of Humans; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Lynas Page; Review: The title of this book is bound to infuriate the very religious among us, those who believe that a God created everything; that He created mankind to worship him, and that there "some things we are not meant to know." That we musn't "play God." (And as far as that goes, we musn't. Play around with chicken hearts in a Petrie dish and next thing you know you've got a gigantic chicken heart devouring the planet. (An episode of Lights Out, for those of you who don't know their radio horror history). Or we'll have clone farms where people will store many copies of themselves just in case they need the occasional kidney or eye somewhere down the line...and who cares what happens to these clones once these parts are removed? (Jefferson 55). But that's biotechnology. In The God Species, author Mark Lynas is well aware that we as humans, in this Anthropocene Age (Age of Humans) aren't doing nearly as good a job of protecting our planet - our only home - as we should be able to do considering the fact that we are an intelligent species. Unlike animals, we know what will happen if we do Action A. It will lead to Action B. It may then lead to Action C or D, and we as humans have the intelligence to forsee those actions! The fact that a lot of people don't bother to think into the future is a literal crime. (I'm thinking of those fishermen on islands that were once tropical paradise. Rather than fish the hard way, they'll drop dynamite or poor bleach into coral reefs to drive out the fish. Instant easy harvest. But then the reef dies and the rest of the fish go away, and there goes the fisherman's livelihood. All because they wanted to take the easy way to begin with.) Mark Lynas is an environmentalist, a Green, but as he says, "Central to the standard Green creed is the ida that playing God is dangerous. Hence the reflexive opposition to new technologies from splitting the animal to cloning cattle. My thesis is the reverse: playing God (in the sense of being intelligent designers) at a planetary level is essential if creation is not to be irreparably damaged or even destroyed by humans unwittingly deploying our newfound powers in disastrous ways." Lynas' book is divided into 9 "Boundaries" (or topics): Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nitrogen, Land Use, Freshwater, Toxics, Aerosols, Ocean Acidification and the Ozone Layer. For each topic he gives its history - the history of what mankind has done and is doing to it, and how it can be engineered for the better. He shares information on how governments and businesses in various countries are working on their own Green programs to save drinking water, limit pollution, but explains that there's so much more to do, especially in developing countries where ability to implement such green ideas is limited. His final chapter is simply titled "Managing the Planet" in which he summarizes his discussion of each Planetary Boundary. Lynas' book is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Balzac's Omelette: A Delicious Tour of French Food and Culture with Honore'de Balzac; Author: Anka Muhlstein; Review: Forty years ago, when I was 12 or so, I discovered the works of Agatha Christie, and immediately became a fan. Indeed, mystery novels became my chief reading matter, and I read and continue to read all the classics. Of the ostensibly Classic novels like Silas Marner, or the Three Musketeers that one was supposed to read in literature class, I had and have no interest. Which is not to say that I don't have a knowledge of them. Anyone who reads mystery novels of the tea cosy school, in particular those written by Christie, by Dorothy Sayers, by John Dickson Carr, by Elizabeth Peters, and so on, will read all about the plots of this Cassic literature, from the handkerchief planted by Iago that convinced Othello that his wife was betraying him, to the wine-dark seas plied by Ulysses, and so on. So, I know of Balzac, though I had no desire to read his works, any more than I want to read Trollope or Dickens, Classics all. But just because I dont' want to read the books they wrote (all literature is too darn depressing, that's why it's literature) doesn't mean I don't find the lives of these authors fascinating and worth reading about. So I read Balzac's Omelette with great interest and enjoyment. This book came out in France in 2010, and this is the translated version. I think that translator Adriana Hunter has done an excellent job with this book - the prose is clear and understandable but maintains that certain "je ne sais quois" that makes one think one could almost be reading and understanding French. In her introduction, Muhlstein points out this fact about Balzac: Balzac and his characters never ate at the same time: either he did or they did. Balzac was an eccentric - considering his deprived childhood he turned out remarkably well - and when he wrote he didn't eat, but rather drank gallons and gallons of hot coffee. But his characters - they ate, and enjoyed it. Balzac traces every minute detail of his characters lives, brings them to life, and he does this in a myriad of ways, one of which is paying great attention to the time they spend on dining. "Balzac's characters are defined as much by the cafe they choose, and their regular eatery or restaurant, as by their voice, their behavior and their clothes. It was only after the French Revolution that restaurants as we know them today came to exist in Paris (and soon throughout the large cities in that country, and so just as Balzac enjoys this new found way to find and eat food, so do his characters. Balzac loved France: "If the French have as great an aversion to traveling as the English have a propensity for it, both English and French have perhaps sufficient reasons. Something better than England is everywhere to be found; whereas it is excessively difficult to find the charms of France outside France." And one of the charms of France is their gastronomic expertise. You do not need; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Brummstein; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Adolphsen Page; Review: I'm not sure whether to give this book 3 stars or 4. Is it fair to criticize a book for not being what it never claimed to be? I love the premise of this novel - a man in 1907 comes to Holloch Caves in search of the "fabled entrance to the underworld." He believes there is an entire world and race of beings living beneath the earth's crust. Yet at Holloch he finds only darkness...and a massive rock formation that emits a strange humming sound." What Clive Cussler could do with a premise like that. But this isn't an action-adventure book, it's a literary escapade. It's also very clearly a European literary escapade - what dialog there is is very sparse, the author tells rather than shows most of the time. Nevertheless, once I calmed my mind from going off into the tangents that I (as an aspiring writer) would have taken it, I did enjoy it...although the ending was very disappointing. Perhaps the way it ends is meant to be the final comment on life. One of my favorite authors is Britisher Terry Pratchett, who has written a myriad of novels in the Discworld series. Pratchett has only one flaw - in my opinion - a habit of spending the first two or three pages - sometimes more - in talking about the Discworld ...I typically skip those pages to get to the actual story. I was reminded of that as I began to read The Brummstein. The first several pages of it give a history of the world, finally culminating in information about Holloch, "the world's fourth-largest cave system." You can't really skip these pages...they contain information that you need to know, but whether it is the fault of the author or the translater I don't know...they slow the book down rather than speed it up. The author (or translator) does us the courtesy of expecting us to be familiar with geological terms (or able to look them up). After the set-up, we get to the beginning of the story proper, with Josef Siedler paying a guide to take him down into the Holloch Caves in search of that entrance to the Underworld and the race of beings called the Vril. However, that part of it is not capitalized on (this is more of a literary book, not a science fiction one.) This book is well worth reading as long as the reader accepts what it is meant to be, rather than what we, as Americans, are conditioned to expect from books that start out with such a premise.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Verily, Verily: The KJV - 400 Years of Influence and Beauty; Author: Visit Amazon's Jon M. Sweeney Page; Review: In his foreword, author Jon Sweeney says: "If you are reading *Verily, Verily*, chances are good that you believe the Bible to be more than just great literature, more than simply a cultural landmark; you turn to the Bible for instruction and inspiration." In my case, at least, Mr. Sweeney is wrong. I'm an atheist and I've read this book because I find religion a fascinating subject - exercises in social engineering that have been going on in every country - in every group of people large enough to be called a tribe, or "a people" or a country. Mr. Sweeney extolls the virtues of the King James Bible in his book, saying: "..the KJV ...is a building block of our collective cultural heritage. ... the KJV has made a greater contribution to the literacy, culture, spirit, faith and beauty of Western civilization than any other book in history." And finally: "Contemporary English translations make the Word of God accessible, but they can also make it seem ordinary." That last I agree with in particular. The Bible is supposed to sound like..the Bible. With thees and thous and those and verily. So I enjoyed reading this book on several levels. It's not a scholary tome. Sweeney talks to the reader as if he, Sweeney, and the reader are sitting on a park bench somewhere, feeding the ducks and enjoying nature and having a pleasant chat. (Which means it does ramble at times, but that's part of its charm.) For one thing, Sweeney doesn't even explain why the King James Bible is called the King James Bible until a couple of chapters into the book. (King James commissioned the translation of this Bible in 1604, the Old Testament translated from Hebrey, the New Testament from Greek and Latin. It was completed in 1611.) The book is divided into 9 chapters, starting with So Much at Stake (explaining why the early translators of the Bible from the Vulgate Latin were usually burned at the stake), to the humor (unintentional) in it because of various typos and mistranslations, to famous politicians who were most influenced by it, to immortal verses and proverbs from it, and finally the Bible and the Wonder - the Bible talks of satyrs, and giants, and people living for thousands of years and so on. I found this book very educational (in the way that education is supposed to be these days, obtained while having fun). Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Herg, Son of Tintin; Author: Benoit Peeters; Review: I discovered the adventures of Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock sometime in the 1980s, when I was 20 or so. They may have been aimed at kids, but adults can enjoy them also. Of course I have my favorites - the piratical ones - The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure, and the space ones, Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. The creator of Tintin, Georges Remi, used his initials to form his pen-name. (Herge is the French pronunciation of RG.) Remi was born in 1907 and died in 1903. Although he created a couple of other comic strips, it is for the Adventures of Tintin that he is most well known. His first adventure was Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, published in book form in 1930, and ending with the 23rd book, Tintin and the Picaros, published in 1976. Tintin is as popular today as ever, with his adventures translated into 80different languages. He's starred in a couple of cartoon series and his adventures have been adapted for radio. Although there have been a few animated Tintin movies in the past. The 2011 Adventures of Tintin directed by Steve Spielberg promises to ignite a new explosion of interest. And doubtless to coincide with the release of that movie, a couple of biographies of Tintin's creator, Herge are coming on the market. Herge, Son of Tintin, by Benoit Peeters, was actually first published in 2002 - it is making its English language debut now. And I found it extremely interesting. Herge was born in 1907 in Belgium, and had a "grey" childhood, nothing particularly stood out. He was 7 when the Germans invaded, and he and his family - not to mention the rest of Belgium - endured privations for the duration of the war. After finishing his compulsory military service in 1920 Herge was able to parlay his lifelong love of drawing and illustration into a job at a weekly newspaper - where he eventually created Tintin. What elements of his past life went into the creation of Tintin - the seeming orphan who has no family, has no need of money, with a job that pays well and allows him to travel all over the world? Peeters takes us through Herge's life from his childhood to this point and offers theories (although he had interviewed Herge a few times, Herge was always reticent about his private life). Peeter's biography is thorough...we learn about the creation of Tintin, Herge's collaborators, his relationship with his wife and other women, not to mention his family. We learn not only how his artistic style developed but also how his story-telling style developed...from simply telling adventure stories to incorporating social commentary as well. We learn of the controversies - for example Herge continued to work for a Nazi-controlled paper during WWII and was accused of collaboration, although this accusation was later disproved. It is an extremely informative book and I enjoyed it a great deal. After finishing it, I immediately went and revisited my collection of Tintin books and read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rip Tide (Dark Life, Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Kat Falls Page; Review: The only reason why I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the stereotypical female characters. Our hero, Ty, does all the rescuing. His sidekick, Gemma, needs all the rescuing. It just gets annoying. Of course the book is more complex than that. Author Kat Falls weaves a complex story about a complex future earth - that may very well happen a few hundred years from now! - with suspenseful situations and compelling characters. Ty and Gemma can do what I've always dreamed of - live and breathe underwater as easily as on the surface, thanks to Liquigen (and who knows if that technology isn't being worked on today in real life...). The books are definitely for teens, not only because of the prose but because of the themes explored. Most science fiction deals with outer space exploration, I was glad to see this series of "action-packed, aquatic adventure." I'll be seeking out book 1 in the series (not that it's necessary to read Book 1 to understand what's going on here, but I'm a completist) and look forward to more books in the series - hopefully ones in which Gemma gets to save the day sometimes!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Offshore Wind: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Offshore Wind Farm Installation; Author: Kurt Thomsen; Review: Author Kurt Thomsen opens his book with an amusing - and rather said - little anecdote. It seems a couple who lived in Kent saw the wind farm go up on the Kentish Flats - a shallow, flat plateau just off the coast of Kent, England. Afterwards, they would try to walk on the beach, but found it impossible to keep their balance because of the wind that the farm generated. They wrote to a local newspaper to complain, and the editor printed their letter and pointed out that a wind farm does not generate wind, but rather is powered by the already existing wind to generate elecricity. (The sad thing is not that this couple, presumably elderly, thought that a wind farm existed to generate wind, but rather that they allowed their prejudices to affect their thinking. They'd probably been walking through wind on that beach all their lives, but now all of a sudden they couldn't keep their balance because the wind was so strong?) Wind farms, whether on land or offshore, are unsightly - unless you like the sight of slender white pylons and three long blades going round and round. Windmills have long been considered "quaint" even though they were built to do work, to ease the work men and women had had to do before the power of the wind was harnessed. These new wind farms are doing work for mankind. Author Kurt Thomsen has 10 years experience building offshore windfarms. That may not seem like a long time until you consider that offshore windfarms are only ten years old - Thomsen, and his co-authors Rachel Pachter and Paul Quinlan, are at the forefront of the technology and the diplomatic skill necessary to build windfarms. "Start at the beginning, go on to the end, then stop," is the advice the Red Queen gave Alice. It is excellent advice for anyone writing a textbook that other people are going to have to follow when dealing with multi-million dollar projects. Thomsen and his co-authors have done that with Offshore Wind. *Everything* is covered here - from the permitting process and dealing with local governments (in the US, the UK and Germany), to the health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements, to the kinds of men (and presumably women) needed to staff the ships that will be raising these offshore windfarms up into the sky. Everything is covered here - from building the modules that form the wind mills (well, wind turbines is the precise term!), to transporting them across country to the coast, to putting them on ships, to setting a foundation and then putting the wind mills up. Accounting, safety, environment - they are all laid out crisply and cleanly. Everyone, from prospective investors in offshore windfarms to the people doing the actual building will benefit enormously from reading this book. In addition, the layperson, who wants to know what goes in to projects of these complexity, will find this book informative as well. There's no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to building offshore windfarms. Everything; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Immortality: The Quest to Live Forever and How It Drives Civilization; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Cave Page; Review: I greatly enjoyed this book - perhaps because everything the author said resonated with me, as he explained the four ways people search for immortality (not dying, having a soul that lives on, being reborn, and leaving a legacy - usually children, but also one's "works".) As an atheist, I have studied religion - all religions - as a way "those in charge" used to control the masses. It's also interesting to think of it from the point of view of people wanting to achieve immortality because they do not want to die, to face the "great unknown," and it is so much more comforting to believe they will live on in a "heaven," which will make all their suffering on earth worthwhile. I like the author's voice - he writes well and with humor, and explains his premises clearly. There were a few minor errors of fact that I caught - as I'm a student of Egyptology and Stephen Cave shares the story of Akhenaten, the Egyptian pharaoh who was the first "monotheist" - defying the rest of his people who worshiped many gods in order to worship the only god, Aten, the sun. He talks of Tutankamun, Akhenaten's son, without mentioning that King Tut's original name was Tutankaten, and that it was changed when, after Akhenaten's death, Egypt went back to worshiping the old gods. (He also mentioned that in 1913, the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt found the bust of Nefertiti, but does not mention that it actually was not perfect - one of her eyes, and only her eye, had not been painted). He also says, "the three great monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam all also believe in literal, physical resurrection as a central doctrine." This isn't strictly true - the Pharisees believed in resurrection, the Saduccees didn't. But these are minor nitpicks. Cave has written a fast-moving, but fascinating, book that will serve as the starting point for people who are interested in history - as they will look upon their favorite historical entities (whether ancient Egyptians, ancient Chinese or Japanese, and so on) with new eyes. It will spur others to start researching into these time periods. And of course it will help the reader see with new ideas the events that are happening today. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Circus Galacticus; Author: Visit Amazon's Deva Fagan Page; Review: There's a saying in the Bible... "the poor we shall always have with us, they were put here to keep us charitable." Another saying could be, "in books that take place in schools there shall always be bullies, they are put there to provide a story's conflict." I don't really care for bullies-in-school stories, for all that I know that in real life every grade in every school in every state has its bullies - there seems to be no getting away from them - it's human nature. So that turned me off this book to start with...then Trix all of a sudden joins the Circus Galactica and then we get another trope, the "enigmatic" circus and its ringmaster. And the rest of the story is all about Trix trying to figure out what's going on because the ringmaster of course is being all enigmatic. The book is well written, and anyone who hasn't read a lot of these types of novels, who will come at it with fresh eyes, will enjoy it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Demi-Monde: Winter: A Novel (The Demi-Monde Saga); Author: Visit Amazon's Rod Rees Page; Review: The Demi-Monde: Winter is a complex, densely written book. You won't be able to polish this off in a couple of hours. I don't know that I'd call it enjoyable, either...but it's a tale that captures your interset and keeps you reading...even as you inwardly thank your lucky stars that you don't exist in such a Twilight Zone-on-steroids type of world. The authory provides a Glossary of Terms and Slang make sure you read that before you start! Unfortunately we're not given a list of the cast of characters - it'll repay you to look the names up in Wikipedia (or whatever reference site you use) as the real people whose names have been used, have attributes that will resonate as you make your way through this labyrinthine work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Random House UP - A Mother and Daughter39;s Peakbagging Adventure; Author: Random House; Review: It's sad but true to say that there aren't a lot of mother-daughter sports or outdoors adventure books out there - whether in fiction or non-fiction. Up was a breath of fresh air. It also made me want to head out to New Hampshire and climb those 48 peaks myself. There's a lot here for any reader - the mom who wants to raise adventurous and respectful daughters, kids who want to know what having an adventurous mom is all about, and the outdoors enthusiast who wants to read about the various types of folks whose desire it is to climb every mountain (or at least, hike the hikeable ones!) Author Patricia Herr writes well and informatively. The story moves along at a rapid pace, as we're given insights into her two daughters and their different personalities and sibling rivalries, the family adventures with husband Hugh, and tips on how to hike up those 48 peaks, and, which is sometimes even harder, to hike down again. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Against Wind and Tide: Letters and Journals, 1947-1986; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Morrow Lindbergh Page; Review: The material Anne Morrow Lindbergh covered in this book resonated with me on so many levels. As I read, my thoughts took flight to concepts in today's world that Lindbergh probably never thought wuld ever happen... There are biological parents - a man who has sex with a woman and gets her pregnant, a woman who has sex with a man and gets pregant - and there are real parents - the adults who spend the next 18 years of their livings actually *parenting* the child, raising it, teaching it morals, giving it a firm ground to stand upon... I think about all the women with children by nine different fathers -what must those children think about, when they see kids with other dads where they have none? It's not enough for us to remove "mom" and "dad" and "married" from our lexicon, as the liberals would have us do, to keep these parent-less children from feeling inferior...from feeling cheated out of something that should have been there...from having no father and no mother to act as a rock, as someone they can go to when they need help... I wonder about the men who so carelessly spread their seed around... today, they do it without being married, without needing to worrry that their sex partner will even want to marry them...what do they think of the children to whom they give the spark of life, but absolutey nothing more? Anne Morrow Lindbergh is not in that group, of course. She is a woman with a husband, eve if he is a travelling one. She may have never known where he was or when he'd come home, but she knew he'd eventually show up (unlike the children of baby daddies and baby mommas). And that's the other thing this book made me think of. Lindbergh actually started families in Europe, while he had his family in the States. What did he think would happen, when he died and his wife and children found out about these others? And what of his European "common law" wife/girlfriend-whatever term you use-, who must have known he was married, and with kids, yet had no problem having children with him anyway.... My father was a pilot in the Air Force, and flew recon during Vietnam. From the age of 1 to about 10,my elder sister and my elder brother, along with my mom and dad, would move from airbase to airbase, and my dad would be gone for extended periods of time. When I was 10 he left the Air Force and became a pilot for a cargo airline, so we traveled to and lived in a few foreign countries - my dad would continue to be gone for weeks at a time, flying...but he was always there for us, financially and, when he *was* home, we'd do things as a family. I loved the life...it wasn't until many years later that I learned/realized how hard it had been on my mom...and on my elder sister...whereas I, the baby of the family, always had a good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: "There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You": My Life in the Slow Lane; Author: Visit Amazon's Bruce Kimmel Page; Review: Jim Dale, in preparing for his role as PT Barnum in the Broadway musical Barnum, read the circus mogul's autobiography. According to Dale, Barnum mentioned his wife exactly twice in his 1000+ page book, on the day he married her and on the day she died. If Bruce Kimmel had followed this stricture (substituting divorce for death), I could have given this book 4 stars. (It loses a star for some structural problems, as I'll mention later.) Kimmel's story of his acting and movie producing career during the 1970s is quite interesting. That's the decade when I was growing up, and he mentions shows I watched and a few actors I knew, so that's fun. Where the book falls down is in Kimmel's personal life. It opens on the day he marries his wife, Kathy. He states the facts immediately - he didn't love her, he didn't like her, in fact, he actively disliked her. He "couldn't explain" why he married her. I wish he would have tried. His story is taking place at a time when men who got women pregnant *did*marry them, but Kathy didn't become pregnant until after they were wed. So why did he marry someone he didn't like, and why did *she* marry someone whom - according to Kimmel - she found obnoxious? After the many-paged prologue in which Kimmel describes the wedding and their first year of marriage, he mentions his wife only perfunctorily throughout the rest of the book. Every ten to twenty pages or so (of Kindle book length), he'll drop in a paragraph without preamble. The paragraph is invariably the same. There's always a sentence about his wife, along the lines of: "Kathy and I hadn't talked to each other for two years." [This despite the fact they live in the same house.] Then there are a couple of sentences about his daughter Jenny, sharing some kind of warm anecdote. After that paragraph, without segue, he goes back to talking about his career. Kimmel never shares any anecdotes about how his wife treats *him*, so we never know if she deserves this silent treatment or not. All we know is that he never talks to *her*. For 11 years, apparently. Finally, after they feel their daughter is old enough to not be traumatized by a divorce, they do divorce, and Kimmel moves on with his life. Once the obligatory familial paragraph is no longer plopped in at odd moments, the story moves right along until the bittersweet ending, where Kimmel has his epiphany that he has to give up acting - which has already given him up, for reasons he relates in the book - and move on to a new career in record producing. As for the structural problems: The chapters are too long, and the chronology at times is not easy to follow. Had Kimmel ended each chapter with one of his perfunctory anecdotes about his family, that would have broken up the book nicely and made good use of those otherwise pointless paragraphs. As it is he continues on after; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flight from Berlin: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's David John Page; Review: I've long thought a book about champion swimmer and Olympic hopeful Eleanor Holm deserved to be written. Holm sailed to Germany in 1936 on board a cruise ship with all the other American Olympic teams (as well as other types of passengers.) Holm was older than most of the rest of the contestants, a socialite, and she intended to have fun on the cruise - drinking and smoking. This went against Avery Brundage's morality and he banned her from the swim team. It was with some anticipation, therefore, that I began Flight From Berlin, in which the lead character of Eleanor Emerson is based on Holm. Author David John sticks to the timeline up until Holm/Emerson is kicked off the team, then the "real" story (the fiction story) begins. It's totally plausible and extremely interesting. David John writes well and he brings the historical characters to life convincingly (he brings in a few of the other Olympic athletes, for example Jesse Owens, Glenn Morris and Helen Stephens. Not to mention Hitler, Goebbels, and a few other prominent Nazis of the time. Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution; Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Stott Page; Review: Ch 1, Darwin's List, was an interesting prelude to an interesting book - after Darwin published his On the Origin of Species, folks came out of the woodwork claiming they'd thought of natural selection first (although only Alfred Russel Wallace really had), or at the very least claiming that they should have got *some* acknowledgement of their efforts in his book. Author Stott lists all the folks whom Darwin listed - people who had gone before, and so on. (But really, if Darwin had never read any of their work, did they deserve credit for coming up with the same ideas? It was the *mechanism* of how natural selection worked that is really Darwin's claim to fame). So we get an insight from the very beginning of how Precedence and Ego worked (and work) in scientific advancement. The rest of the book tells us the history of the theories of evolution (or transmutism, etc), from those who had gone before - from Aristotle to Leonardo to Erasmus Darwin to Alfred Wallace himself. Anyone interested in the history of science, and/or the history of scientific theories and of the march toward evolutionary theory, will enjoy this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marie Curie and Her Daughters: The Private Lives of Science's First Family (MacSci); Author: Visit Amazon's Shelley Emling Page; Review: Professor of English Carolyn Heilbrun, under her pseudonym of Amanda Cross, wrote 14 mystery novels featuring amateur detective Kate Fansler. As the series went on, they became less about detection, and more a platform for Heilbrun to air her feminist views. One of Heilbrun/Cross's themes was how middle aged women were marginalized in our society. She found it interesting that folks writing biographies (or autobiographies) of middle aged women always only told the beginning story, of when they were young, rarely the story of middle or old age when women (or people in general,frankly) have all the knowledge they gained as a youth, and are now implementing it. And these comments resonated with me, a middle-aged woman. So it was a joy to read Marie Curie and her Daughters, by Shelley Emling, which focused not on the young Marie Curie, but on the old one. How she dealt with her new found celebrity (being feted by the USA when she arrived in 1921) and used that to fund her Radium Institute. Her relationship with her daughters is gone into thoroughly. (Obviously!) Life and creation doesn't stop at age 35 or 40, and great things in all spheres of life can be accomplished. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Emerald Storm: An Ethan Gage Adventure (Ethan Gage Adventures); Author: Visit Amazon's William Dietrich Page; Review: I'm deducting one star from The Emerald Storm because of two things that I didn't like about it that might be idiosyncratic to me. I don't like novels which begin "in media res" as this one does. Trust your audience to stick with you from the very beginning of the plot! I hate being left hanging for a third of the book or more! Too frustrating. I also dislike book heroes who are "rogues", rather than stand-up, straight arrow types, but I knew that going in! The novel is told in first person, by Ethan Gage himself, and there's all kinds of historical name dropping going on. If you're up on the actual history of the time, it could be amusing, but if you'er not, I recommend that you take a few notes and look up the names in Wikipedia. Although this is the fourth book in the Ethan Gage series, the "history" of the first three books is gone through quickly so we get a sense of where we are with the characters. Gage (or the author!) does write in an amusing, swift-moving style. (I hesitate to think what a fifth book will be like. Little Horus (or Harry) grown up to 13 or 14 and all precocious, like the young son from the Return of the Mummy movie? Hope not!) So I enjoyed it for the most part, despite its minor flaws, and I will be seeking out the first book in the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shaping Our World: Engineering Education for the 21st Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Gretar Tryggvason Page; Review: I struggled with writing the review of this book, since I'm not really sure if it's good or not. I just couldn't get past the way it was written. I'm not talking about the technical language of engineers - none of that was present. I'm talking about the insistence of all the authors (it is a collection of essays on different, inter-related topics by different people) to write in an academic, i.e. "obfuscatory" way. I would not help but think on one of my favorite books, Writing to Learn, by WIlliam Zinsser, in which he emphasized how important it was for those involved in academic writing to avoid the trap of thinking that using 30 words when 10 would do would make you sound more impressive. Say what you mean in simple, declarative sentences! The book is a "memoir" of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). And WPI *is* one of the leading engineering schools in the world. According to their website, graduates from that institute are among the highest paid engineers in the world. So as far as their curriculum is, they're doing something right. And I could catch glimpses of it here and there - the chapter on Robotic Engineering was interesting. But, overall, I just longed for each of the authors to cut to the chase and give me uncluttered sentences. If you're willing to be patient and wade through the writing, there is some good stuff here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When Can You Trust the Experts?: How to Tell Good Science from Bad in Education; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel T. Willingham Page; Review: Way back in 1978, Isaac Asimov, the great science popularizer (as well as writer of science fiction) wrote an essay called "By No Means Vulgar" in which he emphasized that science had become "a matter of life or death" for society. Science was no longer confined to just a few men and women conducing research to satisfy their own curiosity (as was the case from the beginning up until the early 1900s). Scientists - academic and in businesses - were receiving government grants - paid for by our tax dollars - to conduct whatever research they were conducting. Scientific advance could produce something to save us - or destroy us. Scientific investigation could not be carried out by volunteers - we needed people trained "in many levels of scientific accomplishment" if "our technological civilization it to work well." And because of this, Asimov felt we taxpayers should have an understanding of and a say in what was being researched. To cut a long preface short, that's where we are today, 40+ years later. The rate of technological change is accelerating, and American education has not kept up with it. Most scientific advance these days is coming from other countries. Our academic scientists are getting loads of grants...but what exactly is their research? American kids are rated well below other country's kids in math, geography, science...and what they *are* being taught - what *we* as adults are being taught, for that matter - is suspect. Author Daniel T. Willingham explains in this book "how to tell good science from bad in education." And that needs to be done - and he does it well. But really, the method Willingham outlines in this book can be used in every aspect of our lives. His method? 1) Strip it - clear away the verbiage of a claim. 2) Trace it. Who created this idea? 3) Analyze it 4) Is it worth implementing? Think about that when you're dealing with a politician, for example. As I write this the presidential campaigns of Romney and Obama are ramping up, with each side taking out ads bashing the other. People have a tendency to believe only in things that fit in with what they *think* they already know - so are the audiences for these ads believing what they're seeing, or are they noting down the claims and then doing research into them to find out for themselves what is true or false. Willingham opens up his book by talking about the Theory of the Golden Mean...which sounds so convincing with all the evidence for it that he gives...and then he points out that it's all bunkum, because this, this and that were left out of his examples that "proved" the Golden Mean hypothesis. Moral? Make sure before you believe the wild claims and provided "proof" of those claims - that you're being told the whole picture and that nothing is beign left out. Why don't people - or rather governments and government entities - ever learn from their mistakes? Take for example the "whole word" based theory; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adobe Photoshop CS6 Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynette Kent Page; Review: When I saw the cover of this book one of my pet peeves was ignited, the top blurb is "Read less-learn more." I found that offensive. What's wrong with reading? The problem with manuals of the past (oh, those longed-for days when we were provided with physical manuals instead of stuff on the Internet!) was not that they were written...it was that they were *poorly* written. (Another pet peeve is the reference to "tricks". Why is it that advertisers and publicity writers these days think we are intrigued to learn "weird tricks" or "old tricks" or why this or that company hates this or that person...). After getting over that pique, though, I went through this book and loved it. The book shares 100 simplified tips for getting work done in Photoshop. The text is crisp, clear and step by step, and the illustrations chosen are apt. It was a joy to go through it. Tips range from customizing your copy of Photoshop (changing defaults to what *you* like; working with layers, selections and masks; straightening, cropping and resizing (I cannot express how much I love the "straightening feature, btw); retouching portraits (ditto), enhancing colors, tones and sharpness in photos; processing photos in camera row; using digital special effects; using text effects; creating digital artwork from photographs; and giving your images a professional presentation. There is no need to fear the complexities of Photoshop with this book. Beginners will be pros in no time. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave: The Shakespeare Mysteries, Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Deron R. Hicks Page; Review: As an adult, I was willing to read this book and give the plot time to develop. And it did, after two "mysterious" prologues - one taking place in 1616 and the other in 1623, and then Chapter One, a series of mysterious" newspaper articles" published in 2005. So it's not til Chapter Two that we get to present day and the introduction of the two kids who are going to embark on this "whirlwind" journey - Colophon (a girl) and Case (her elder brother) Letterford. (Colophon is a publisher's distinctive emblem. For example the colophon of Bantam Books is a bantam rooster, always printed on the spine. National Geographic uses a yellow square, etc.) Anyway, after several chapters the book does get interesting. I liked the character of Colophon. Her brother is of course a jerk to begin with but mellows throughout the book. Each chapter is a phrase from one of Shakespeare's plays or sonnets - I amused myself by trying to guess which ones, before I looked at the Epilogue which identified them. So I'm not really sure how to review this book. Kids I think would find it boring...but if they can get through the first few introductory prologues and chapters, it's well worth reading - and may even interest them in Shakespeare. The language seems aimed at adults as well, frankly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen L. Carter Page; Review: I am a dedicated "what if" buff, and so I picked up The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln with great interest. But I have to say it did disappoint, chiefly because of Carter's strange choice of a black woman as the lead character. There's nothing wrong with black women as lead characters - except when the book takes place in 1866 USA and the character is doing things she could not possible have done! Carter gives us an Author's Note at the back of the book in which he tells us what is fact and what is fiction within the book. In this Author's Note he points out that there were wealthy blacks just after the Civil War, in the North of course. And this may well be true. But while some whites would have accepted Carter's heroine, Abigail Canner, and her work on "the impeachment" - most assuredly would not. If not because she was black - because she was a woman! If you can suspend that bit of disbelief, the book is worthy, although there are a few other annoyances. I was prepared for them, however, since I read the Author's Note first thing to find out exactly what he had made up and what was actual fact, and he had changed some stuff around that I felt didn't need to be changed - and hurts a "what if" book that should be as factual as possible except for that central "what if." It's worth a read, just check it out from your local library.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Ash Page; Review: I started creating web pages for my businesses a few years ago. I used pure html, none of that "web page creator" software. As the years went by I didn't keep up on the new technology - CSS and the like, and the income from my webpages has been steadily decreasing. So I decided it was time to get into the 21st century and bring my websites up to snuff. To that end, I ordered Landing Page Optimization and was quite pleased. With today's economy you can't be amateurish about your websites - not if you want to make a living out of them. So having an optimized Landing Page - one that will convert hits to money - is a must. This book gives you all the tools you need. You'll be able to tell if you need to redesign your page for aesthetic as well as business reasons, and you'll be given the knowledge of how to test new features to see if they actually do work. Hit-and-miss is mostly miss these days. You must be sure - and this book will help you achieve that. There's some technical stuff here, but it's well written and easy to follow. Get it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Chemical Element: Chemistry's Contribution to Our Global Future; Author: Javier Garca-Martnez; Review: This book was written under the auspices of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, and throughout the book the authors talk about our global future - code for globalization, frankly. I'm not happy about that. It'd be one thing if everyone were to globalize on America's Republic model, but instead we're gradually and inexorably being forced into the European socialist model. I found the nationalities of the chemists contributing to this book to be interesting as well. They're all "tops in their fields." There are 25 authors - or contributors - total. 1 is from Botswana, 2 are from Canada, 2 are from England, 2 are from France, 5 are from Italy, 6 are from Spain, and 9 are from the United States. Where's Germany, where's someone from the former Soviet Union, where's China? Okay - I don't know if there's anything to be made from that - I just thought it was interesting. Political concerns aside, this is a fascinating book, from its history of chemistry to its postulations of the problems we'll face in the future and how chemists and chemistry can help us solve them. I'm a layperson, so some of the technical stuff was over my head, I admit, but I know enough to understand the themes. It is science that will save us, by the way. Properly applied science. This is a hardcover book printed on glossy paper, and so it is very reasonably priced for a book of that quality. The authors of course are academic for the most part, so we get lots of wordy paragraphs...nevertheless it's well worth reading, though it is dense reading and will take more than a couple of hours.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Time to Shine: Applications of Solar Energy Technology; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Grupp Page; Review: I'm not sure what age level this book is for. Its thinness presupposes its aimed at teens (its only a little over 100 pages long), and there's an attempt at facetiousness with the occasional appearance of the "alert reader," but this attempt at facetiousness fails. The book is simply poorly written and thus hard to wade through, regardless of its other merits. The lead author is a German and it would seem English is his second language. As such his sentences are convoluted and verbose and therefore reading this book is a chore more than anything else. The facts and info are all there...but they need a better vehicle than this book. (The author does state that we are running out of fossil fuel - we *are*, but only because environmentalists are preventing us from reaching it. Rather than prevent the building (or rather, the profitability) of coal plants, for example, environmentalists should team up with these fossil fuel folks to ensure their safety. Solar to replace oil and coal is far, far in the future, and I don't fancy living in the equivalent of the Dark Ages while inventors scramble to replace the irreplaceable - our knowledge.); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty; Author: Visit Amazon's Daron Acemoglu Page; Review: As I write this review, it's been some months since the debt crisis in the Euro zone - Portugal, Spain, Greece - were on the front pages of all the newspapers. Today, every country in the world is interconnected through finance - basically wealthy countries (or should I say wealthy-on-paper countries) lend money to poor countries, and receive a return on their investment in these poor countries when those countries repay the loans with interest. Of course if the country in question doesn't repay the loan (otherwise known as "debt forgiveness"), the wealthy-on-paper country writes off the debt and taxes its own citizens a bit more to recoup the loss. How long can *that* go on? The current US government seems to think it can continue to go on indefinitely - It's all play money, shifted around from ledger to ledger, with more printed as needed. But it's all going to come crashing down, sooner or later. Which brings me to this book, Why Nations Fail, a fascinating history of the world in the context of nation building. We know everything that this author says in this book (by "we" I mean those who keep up on this type of thing, such as our own government) and yet our own government people can't, or perhaps won't, learn from their own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others, and we continue on the path to oblivion. We are part of our nation...every nation is part of the world ... we need to know what's presented in this book. We need to learn from it - even if we disagree with conclusions drawn - and we need to right the ship before it inevitably capsizes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kickstarter Handbook: Real-Life Crowdfunding Success Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Don Steinberg Page; Review: If you've got some kind of creative idea - making a movie, a CD, some kind of art, taking photographs; practically anything at all - you've probably heard of Kickstarter. It's a website where you can go to place your Fundraising Campaign, offering a variety of rewards to your backers (you get backers - who are in essence per-purchasers - of your product, not donors who give money without expectation of reward.) The real-life success stories within here are invaluable, as they give you some idea of what to expect when you launch your own campaign. A few things to remember about Kickstarter. 1) it's not free. Kickstarter charges a 5% fee, and their payment partner, Amazon Payments, charges a further 3%. 2) You are the one who has to do the advertising. Kickstarter offers you their website, and tries to direct people to all the campaigns in an area in which they're interested in, but that's all they do. But if you decide to use Kickstarter, this book is a must. The stories are used to illustrate points in the very informative chapters: 1. Are you ready for this? (What you've got to know before you start) 2. Choosing your magic number (amount to ask for) 3. Pledges and rewards (contribution levels) 4. Who gives (background on a few backers) 5. How long will this be going on (the duration of your campaign) 6. Lights, camera, action (making your video) 7. Kickoff (building and launching your project) 8. Build the buzz (How to get attention with mass media and social networks) 9. The Finishing Kick (how to make your funding level if it's lagging) 10. After the loving: tales of fulfillment (You've got the money, now you *have* to deliver!) 11. Learning from failure (50% of Kickstarter campaigns don't succeed. What goes wrong?) 12. Resources and Kickstarter alternatives; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Case of the Green Turtle: An Uncensored History of a Conservation Icon; Author: Visit Amazon's Alison Rieser Page; Review: I'm a chronologist - I like to know the history of everything. I therefore loved this book - the case of the Green Turtle. The author starts by pointing out that scientists today argue about whether or not the sea turtle is actually endangered. Some say it is, some say it isn't. Those are the folks who want turtle soup on the menu and various items made from the turtle's shell. (For myself, I wouldn't eat turtle soup if you paid me and plastic glasses are just as good as tortoise shell glasses any day of the week. There's no reason for anyone to kill sea turtles these days! But that's a rant for a conservation website rather than a book review.) After the introduction, the author then goes on to chronicle the history of the conservation movement - specifically with regard to the green turtle. The book is well-written, and even-handed, giving both sides of the story - from conservations to those who wish to make their living exploiting what they believe to be an exploitable resource, put on this planet by god just for that purpose - and if the turtle is driven extinct in the process, well, that's okay, they'll just find something else to exploit. (Sorry, I'm ranting again). So both sides of the conservation and endangered species act debate will find this book of interest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii (Full-color Travel Guide); Author: Fodor's; Review: I'm never going to get to Hawaii unless I win the lottery, but I love looking at travel books and dreaming. (I'm also a writer and need to be able to describe places with verisimilitude.) Fodor always turns out a quality product - great photos and well-written. If you're actually planning a trip to the Big Island, this would be an excellent resource.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What's Wrong with the United Nations and How to Fix it; Author: Thomas G. Weiss; Review: I have long felt that the US needed to pull out of the United Nations. We provide most of their funding - which we can no longer afford - and they vote against US interests all the time. They're also trying to institute global world government via such things as Agenda 21. Which would be fine if this global world government were run along American lines - but there is no hope of that - we are gradually being converted into European socialism which will be an utter disaster. So when I saw the title of this book, I didn't even bother to read the description, I ordered it. I assumed it would be a book by an American outlining my own concerns (and that of lots of other folks) and how to react to them. You can imagine my shock when I got the book and found that, while the author, Thomas G. Weiss, is American, he feels that a world government will solve all the world's ills. I just laughed. Had I looked at his biography and seen he was a Professor at one of our universities, I would not have been so surprised, of course. (Weiss is a Professor at The City University of New York's Graduate Center and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies.) Anyway, Weiss's book is well-written and he does address the central problem of the UN (although, truth to tell, it's the central problem of all government organizations including our own US government.) Entrenched incompetence and a labyrinthine bureaucracy. I disagreed with a few of his premises, but because its important to know all sides of a story, I recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winning Strategies for Power Presentations: Jerry Weissman Delivers Lessons from the World's Best Presenters; Author: Visit Amazon's Jerry Weissman Page; Review: The author of this book, Jerry Weissman, has apparently written 3 other books on how to give great presentations. I haven't read them, this is the first book of his I've read. And frankly, this book just seems like a lot of fluff. If you've read his other 3 books (or even, hopefully, just one!) there's no need for this one. I mean, really, is giving presentations so hard that you need not 3 books but 4 on the subject? In this book, Weismman doesn't really seem to have anything new to say. The book is divided into 75 chapters, each one about two pages long, and quotes an actor or writer about some kind of creative process, then relates it to giving a presentation. So he references Woody Allen, Federico Fellini, Steven King, some movie reviewer, etc. I wanted a book that would show me how to give great presentations. Start me at the beginning, with how to write down my ideas on index cards, take me through the process of writing the presentation, finding or makeing illustrations for it, then learning how to give it so I am confident and know the material by heart, talk abut handouts for my audience, and so on. That's the kind of a book that people need, not this mishmash. I suppose there are a few good things in it.... what to do with your hands (use 'em normally and not the weird way TV presenters have been trained to use them - so phony!) and what to do about people who think nothing of interupting your presentation to talk or text on their phone... but all these things would surely have been covered in one of his three previous books. I'm afraid I can find no reason for the existence of this fourth one.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Forged: Why Fakes are the Great Art of Our Age; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathon Keats Page; Review: I don't agree with the author's assertion that fakes our "the great art of our age," but apart from that this is a great book that raises a lot of issues about art, the enjoyment of art, and art values - both monetary and asthetic. This is a slim volume, but there's plenty of information packed within its pages. Keats gives us detailed histories of: Lothar Malskat: What is belief? Alceo Dossena: What is authenticity? Hans van Meegeren: What is authority? Erric Hebborn: What is history? Elmyr de Hory: What is identity? Tom Keating: What is culture? A comment Keats shared by philosopher Dennis Dutton in Keat's section on the drawings forger Eric Hebborn really resonated. ""Hebborn's handiwork has altered our understanding of the history of graphic representation just as surely as a document forger's skill might alter our understanding of the history of ideas." "Altered our understanding" is rather a mealy-mouth way of saying that the history of graphic representation has been distorted and even destroyed. The same with history distorted or destroyed by a document forger, or someone who forges dinosaur bones or *anything.* They do much more damage than just selling a fake for the real thing. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it as a starting point to study such fascinating characters as these forgers - particularly van Meegeren (people are actually forging Van Meegeren forgeries).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The New Economics of Inequality and Redistribution (Federico Caff Lectures); Author: Visit Amazon's Samuel Bowles Page; Review: I don't believe that a welfare state will produce anything except institutionalized povery, and "egalitarian redistribution of wealth" sounds evil to me. Both of these things are championed by Samuel Bowles in this book which undboubtedly is a must-read in every American university. So why did I give it a five star rating when I disagree with all the principles and ideas outlined in this slim volume? (163 pages, plus appendices, works cited and index). Well, because if you object to what is happening in the US today, as we move closer and closer to embracing European socialism, you have to know what we're fighting against, and this book incapsulates it pretty well. There are always two sides to every story and this book only presents one side - the "egalitarian redistribution of wealth" side. It never claimed to do otherwise, of course, but anyone who wants a complete view of economics and which system will make more people "wealthy" will read books on both sides of the aisle. So, from that standpoint, this book is a must read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Great Inventions that Changed the World; Author: Visit Amazon's James Wei Page; Review: I had always thought that people who invented things were able to do so in an environment of political and religious freedom, but Wei posits that most early inventions (early, early inventions, from the Cavemen onward) came about because of the climate in which people lived. This made sense. I found the way the book ws laid out to be interesting, as were the thumbnail sketches of the inventions in each of the categories he covered - Inventions for work, domestic life, health and reproduction, security, transportation, information, and finally, the good life (I was reminded of Douglas Adams comment on that subject in his Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases, those of Survival, Inquiry and Sophistication, otherwise known as the How, Why and Where phases. For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question "How can we eat?" the second by the question "Why do we eat?" and the third by the question "Where shall we have lunch?"). I enjoyed the book very much, for all that it seems intended as a textbook for an engineering class. (That doesn't mean that the text isn't accessible to the layperson, just that it is a text book, not a popular study.) It is profusely illustrated, and lots of information is covered that a casual reader will appreciate knowing. So pick it up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Secretary: A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Ghattas Page; Review: Author Kim Ghattas was born in Beirut, Lebanon and grew up there during the Civil WAr which raged from 1975 to 1990. As she states in her Introduction, "My father always said, 'If America wanted the fighting to end, the war would be over tomorrow.' He waited fifteen years for theguns to fall silent. From 1975 to 1990, everybody waited while 150,000 people died." She also says, "During the war in Lebanon, America received the most calls for help and the biggest share of blame in a conflict so complicated that even the Lebanese sometimes lost the plot." Up until my early thirties (which was 20 years ago) I had little interst in politics. My country, the USA, was the best one on the planet [and it still is, for that matter, in terms of its promise!] and all our politicians were intelligent, honest, and had the best interests of the country at heart, and *always* made the correct andsensible decisions, regardless of whether they were Republican or Democrat. But, I was disabused of that notion way back in the 1990s, and believe today as so many folks do that most politicians are at best only interested in lining their own pockets, and at worst, crooks. Since that time I've been studying the history of the American political process in all its facets, andf acquired The Secretary on that basis. I'm not a fan of Hilary Clinton, or of Barack Obama for that matter, and it was interesting to read Kim Ghattas book' which refers to them both in glowing terms. Indeed, what she has to say about the Obama administration is very interesting. This is the fascination of politics, or indeed of any subject. Two people can see the exact same thing, hear the exact same words, and each one come to different conclusions about it based on their own political beliefs. The Secetary is required reading for anyone interested in American foreign policy, and indeed the future of the United Statse in general. It's fascinating to read of the history of four years (approximatley) of our foreign policy as seen through the eyes of a non-native writer who sees everything through the prism of someone who had waited as a child for the US to do *something* to stop the bloodshed in her country. The US has long been criticized since the end of WWII for seeming to adopt the role of Policeman, helping with or meddling in the affairs of other countries (dpending on who you listen to.) We're continuing to do that under Obama, although with seemingly a different goal in mind (no longer what's best for American interests but how to get America cut down to size...). Oh, it's a complex subject. Anyway, heartily recommended regardless of which side of the political spectrum you are on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Science Communication: A Practical Guide for Scientists; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Bowater Page; Review: Way back in the 1980s, famous science fiction author and science popularizer Isaac Asimov wrote an essay (which you can read in the anthology Asimov on Science Fiction) in which he pointed out that scientists had to step out of their ivory tower and start engaging the public. He pointed out that in the distant past scientists could work on their own, but now (and he was talking about the 1980s) science is directed/funded by governments - who of course use the tax dollars of the people to do so. Engagement by scientists is even more important now than it was then. This book is full of a variety of proposals from British scientists, but they can be used just as well in the American mileiu, and it is really needed here. After all, it is here in the US that we still have states that our seriously trying to get creationism taught in schools! So not only do scientists need to engage the public and "open the window" on what scientists do, they also need to combat bad science and pseudo-science. This book is aimed at the scientists who wishes to communicate with the public, and as you might expect it is laid out in a very scientific way. There's a section on monitroing and evaluating a scientist's event or activity, and how to analyze the results, report the results and assess the impact. The book provides case studies of scientists who have gone into public schools and engaged students on their level - both "average" students and students involved in science programs - as well as for the general public. Everything is gone into in great detail. There's also a section of full color photographs which did seem a bit much for a book of this nature (and doubtless adds to the cost.) But that's a minor complaint. Topics (each one broken down in great detail): 1. A Guide to Science Communication (a history) 2. Scientists Communicating with the public 3. Encouraging Scientists to Communicate with the public 4. Communication, Learning and Writing 5. Monitoring and Evaluating Your Event or Activity 6. Getting Started with public science communication 7. Direct public communication 8. Indirect Public communication (television, radio, newspapers, science advocacy) 9. Getting started with science communication in schools 10. Demonstrating interactions between scientists and schools Scientists - people need you. Go forth and prosletyze! This book helps show the way.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp; Author: Visit Amazon's Ann Kirschner Page; Review: Women have long been neglected in the annals of history. For the last couple of decades more and more women have had their stories told, of course. as people are making a determined effort to track down and tell these lost stories and present them in the appropriate context. Lady at the OK Corral is one such work. Watch any Western movie or TV up until the late 80s and the women in them are only stock characters for the most part. (Barbara Stanwyck's Big Valley a notable exception.) Of course women back then didn't get involved in gunfights the way men did, and it's important to represent true history, not distort it for the sake of feminism. Author Ann Kirschner has done an excellent job separating fact from fiction in this biography (the fiction that Josephine Marcus Earp created for herself, as well as the fiction that grew up around the Old West and Wyatt Earp thanks to those classic Western TV series of the 50s and 60s which taught several generations practically everything they (think they) know about the Old West. I highly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Goodman Page; Review: People today, in particular women, in the Western World, don't really know how far women have come since the 1900s in regards to possessing the freedom to do or be anything they want. There's an old saying by Newton that if he "saw further than others, it's because he stood on the shoulders of giants." I paraphrase. But the same can be said about women today. All our achievements, our freedoms that we now enjoy, were fought for by generations of women who prevailed against the current norms of the day. Up until the 1980s, practically, women were expected to stay at home and tend to husband and children only. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) Women who had ambitions as scientists, inventors or explorers were gently discouraged and it took a strong character to prevail. The story of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland is a microcosm of the world of 1889. Part of it is how women were treated back then - women such as Bly and Bisland were feted publically because they were women attempting this complicated journey, but privately were thought of as "unwomanly." Then there's the manipulation by the media - in particular Bly's employer (which just goes to show that an impartial news media has actually never existed.) The story and history are fascinating, and the adventures of the two woman are told in an engaging way by author Matthew Goodman. Highly recommended for all history buffs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Born on a Mountaintop: On the Road with Davy Crockett and the Ghosts of the Wild Frontier; Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Thompson Page; Review: I've always been interested both in history and how it is presented. As the saying goes, (I can't remember the exact wording, unfortunately) there are 3 sides to every story, what side A says happened, what side B says happened, and the truth. Born on a Mountaintop gives the true history of Davy Crockett, and discusses the legends that have grown up around him...and why those legends have grown because they fill people's needs. Its the same with Wyatt Earp and the Gunfight at the OK Corral, or to venture further afield, the history of England's Richard III. The craft of biography is a difficult one, and so is the craft of documenting and memorializing local heroes. Anyone interested in history - the truth versus the story - will find this book invaluable. (Not so much because of the insights into Davy Crockett, although of course that *is* the book, but also the wider implications for stories/biographies/memorials to any historical figure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: College Unbound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey J. Selingo Page; Review: The US education system is indeed broken, which is embarrassing and shameful when you consider how rich the US is, how much education is all around us just waiting to be tapped. College(Un)bound deals with the college experience, but we really need to fix the education system - *and* our students - from the 1st grade onward. Are there any kids that want to learn anymore? Even if there are poor, inner city schools that can't afford to go on field trips, those kids can still learn math, the sciences, English, etc. so they can get out of the inner city and embrace the American dream. Of course there's plenty of kids in affluent schools that also are just as zombie-fied, expecting everything including grades to be handed to them on a silver platter. So College (Un)bound deals with only one part of the problem facing the United States today, but for all that it's a must read for every student who wants to go to college not just so they can get a cookie cutter degree but because they have an ambition and want to fulfill it. Selingo discusses "the 5 disruptive forces that will change higher education forever." They are: 1. Colleges in debt 2. Lack of state funding for educational programs (nursing programs, etc) so not enough classes for people who want to take them 3. Not enough full-paying students 4. Online higher institutions improving 5. Value gap - students just don't see the value of a college education, when they can get married, have kids and work at a low-paying job instead (and agitate for better wages because it's not fair that they should have to raise a family on minimum wage!) Okay - that's not *quite* the way author Selingo put it, but it's the gist! Actually according to Selingo it's because there's "limited learning" going on during the four years of college...students aren't being taught what they need to know. Anyone who is concerned about the education of one's children and the future of this country should take a look at this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Opportunity, Montana: Big Copper, Bad Water, and the Burial of an American Landscape; Author: Visit Amazon's Brad Tyer Page; Review: We walk a delicate tightrope these days. On the one hand there's millions and millions of people in the US. How do we get the energy needed to power the infrastructure of towns, cities, etc. to keep people employed and living in a civilized manner, while at the same time keeping the environment safe, not only so that there's greenery to look at but so that pollution doesn't bite us in the butt? There are extremes on both sides. On the environmentalist side there are folks who'd rather see a whole town die so that a 'snakedarter fish' won't become extinct in its little pond, and on the other side there are industrialists who don't care what damage they do to make their profits (and provide energy/resources to people) thinking apparently that the earth is robust enough to be able to bounce back from what other localized destruction they do to it. I have to admit I vacillate at times. I don't think the existence of a snakedarter fish is more important than that of a whole town...but if you ask me if letting wolves, mountain lions and deer have a decent habit in which to live is more important than building yet another housing area in previously pristine woodland, I'd have to side with the animals. Opportunity, Montana was a devastating read, because it really brought home the callousness and ...dare I say ineptness...of big business...in this case "Big Copper." An interesting, sobering read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer and the African Adventure that Took the Victorian World by Storm; Author: Visit Amazon's Monte Reel Page; Review: Monte Reel really does his subject proud in "Between Man and Beast." The book is thoroughly researched and it shows. I always dislike non-fiction books that have dialog between people, but Reel does it well in this book - what little there is of it - because it comes straight from the diaries or accounts of people who were there. It's a fast paced, intriguing tale...if not a little sad. Gorillas discovered by men in 1846...167 years later they're almost extinct, their habitat gone. Reel evokes the world of the 1850s pretty thoroughly, from scientific knowledge to religious thought, to of course the debate on race. It's also a rousing adventure story, with a mysterious protagonist. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The High Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Nash Page; Review: Blue Jay seems to be a clone of Captain Jack Sparrow, but for all that this was a fun book and with its full color plates, gorgeous to look at as well. The world of this book is fully realized...you'll believe that a ship can fly! The characters are engaging, the story enthralling. Frankly I'm well into my adult years and I loved it. Blue Jay is of course written for kids but like Watership Down, it has themes for all ages. (And unlike Watership Down, it isn't boring.) Kids of all ages will love this addition to pirate lore!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods; Author: Visit Amazon's Christine Byl Page; Review: I'm an armchair laborer - well, I should say I'm an armchair *manual* laborer - I work pretty hard on my computer all day and it is as exhausting mentally as working on the land is exhausting physically - but that's just a small niggle I felt as I read this extremely enjoyable book (happily, from my armchair!) Author Christine Byl isn't an "NPS poster child, rangers in flat hats giving campfire talks," but rather a "traildog" - one of many people (although probably less now than formerly, thanks to the recent Sequester) who work behind the scenes maintaining trails through parks and building new ones. This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what traildogs do, told from the point of view of a "woman in a man's world" who turns out to be "just one of the guys," holding her own with the grueling work and enjoying it. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation Is Shaping our World; Author: Visit Amazon's David D. Burstein Page; Review: There are 80 million Millenials - "people who are today 18-30 years of age...and by 2020 they will represent one of three adults." Author David Burstein advocates "social entrepreneurship," how a company can "do well and do good at the same time," and he points out that Millenials are "embracing the 'socialization' of business as the new normal." Not all Millenials are in to the Democrat view of "social justice" and "economic redistribution" but many of the individuals - each one profiled briefly, no more than a few paragraphs each - are. I give it five stars because it is well written and showcases these selected individuals and their beliefs quite clearly. This slender volume - 206 pages - is divided into six chapters: 1. Pragmatic Idealists 2. Fast Future, Present Shock 3. First Digitals - online content users, including creators of YouTube 4. 21st Century Capitalism - "the financial crisis (2008) and universal loathing it earned bankers and financiers-is making a mercenary career increasingly unappealing to the next generation.) [That's an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal article! but it highlights the belief of the Millenials in this book,) 5. Political Pivot 6. Globalized (Millenials in countries other than the US) This book is a must-read. As you read it, do a Google (or other Search engine!) search on each of the individuals mentioned, and see how they and their projects are faring at the current moment in time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Short, Happy Life In "Jeopardy!"; Author: Visit Amazon's Brendan DuBois Page; Review: I have to admit I'd never heard of Brendan Dubois. (I read mysteries but I typically stick to Golden Age - the "cozies" of England.) But I'm thinking about trying to become a Jeopardy contestant in another few years and I snapped up a few of these "what its like to be on Jeopardy' books just to...well....see what its' like. I enjoyed the book thoroughly. Told in a chatty manner, from his various attempts to get on the game show to begin with, to the day of the game and its result, to the cameraraderie between the various contestants, to the aftermath - I didn't realize winners had to wait a while for their money! He also provides three internet Jeopardy chat forums that I think will be very helpful for me. ;) At the price he's asking, this book is well worth it. I do have to say that there are a handful of typos in the book...but for a book this inexpensive, it's no big deal. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How I Got on Jeopardy!...and Won!; Author: Visit Amazon's Jared Cohen Page; Review: I see that I am not the only reviewer who was put off by Cohen's use of "foul language" in this book. After reading Brendan DuBois' much more pleasantly-written account (My Short Happy Life in "Jeopardy") I was rather surprised by Cohen's use of language. In addition, although his book is as chattily written as DuBois - if not more so - at least DuBois watched his episodes or in some way refreshed his memory so he could give us a step-by-step account of the questions asked and his answers. Cohen remembers very little of the questions and says so. If he'd waited til he could see his eps on TV - it would have been better. Cohen has a sense of humor - and occasionally that "foul language" does make his comment funnier, but there was just too much of it. Cohen did tell me some stuff (I'm going to try to get on Jeopardy in another couple of years, and am buying these books just to find out the inner workings of such an attempt) that DuBois hadn't mentioned in his book - 2nd and 3rd place contestants apparently do get paid a bit, which is nice considering they have to pay their own way to the taping!, but overall I have to say I preferred DuBois' work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Icy Clutches (A Gideon Oliver Mysteries); Author: Aaron J. Elkins; Review: I like Aaron Elkins' books featuring Gideon Oliver, all though of course I like some books more than others. I think Icy Clutches was the very first book in the series that I read, and I liked it so much that I started reading the series from the beginning - something that I suggest all readers do. The first book in the series, Fellowship of Fear, seems to have not been written with a series in mind and Oliver's character changes somewhat between that novel and subsequent books in the series, but it's fun to see how he first started. As with most of the Oliver books, Gideon and his wife have traveled somewhere, where a past murder has been committed and bones have been found, and Gideon must solve the mystery. For folks who love the formula - and who doesn't, this is an excellent book in the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Archetypes: Who Are You?; Author: Visit Amazon's Caroline Myss Page; Review: I think the concept of the Archetype is a fascinating one, and this book is an excellent introduction to that concept. The author divides people into ten archetypes which seems to cover everything: but she only deals with archetypes for women. They are: The Advocate, the Artist, The Athlete, the Caregiver, the Fashionista, the Intellectual, The Queen/Executive, The Rebel, the Spiritual Seeker and the Visionary. I found some of the divisions arbitrary - for example one of the opening paragraphs on the Fashionista archetype: Descriptions of the Fashionista as a clothes addict or a clothes-horse are not only inappropriate but inadequate, completely ignoring the hidden and complex soul journey inherent in our leading red-carpet archetype. The Fashionista is the poster child for exploring individuality and self-esteem, the foundation of this Archetype's life journey, Surely to a "Fashionista," the self-esteem is not actually self-esteem in itself, but self-esteem acquired through looking "sexy" to achieve the approbation of men. The book is written in layperson's language - it's easy to understand and the author doesn't go into a lot of psychobabble. Thought provoking reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Career Planning for Research Bioscientists; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Blackford Page; Review: This book is indeed a must read for research bioscientists (and, to tell the truth, anyone seeking a job, as much of the information presented really does apply to any kind of job search.) After the preliminaries - "the process of career planning," "the importance of career planning," "what is self awareness" - the subjects of interest to all, the author gets down to the nitty gritty - Career sectors for biochemists, "where are the jobs," and then moves on to the process of making applications and preparing for interviews. What's really valuable are the "career narratives" from various bioscientists whom Blackford polled in the book - prospective bioscientists will find those definitely of interest and of help.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Light for Murder (Detective Tommy Veasy Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Heywood Gould Page; Review: I enjoyed this book for the most part. I have always been fascinated by the "movie milieu" and love books which give an inside look at that life, told by someone who is actually in the business and knows it thoroughly, and can actually write well. (The two don't always go together.) I remove one star because I didn't really care for the detective - I prefer *my* detectives to not do pot, and not to be filled with angst. However, if you don't mind that type of detective or think of the character as true to life, you won't have a problem with it. Well written, suspenseful, hilarious, I do recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extreme Medicine: How Exploration Transformed Medicine in the Twentieth Century; Author: Kevin Fong M.D.; Review: When you read a blurb, 'How exploration transformed medicine in the twentieth century," you expect the book to be about "how exploration transformed medicine in the twentieth century!" This book started out in that vein...talking about the death of Robert Falcon Scott in Antarctica...but that was the last time exploration came into this book! I expected to learn about how folks were going into the jungles of the Amazon, looking for plants that could cure horrible diseases, or diving in oceans looking for kelp or the toxin of some dangerous fish that could actually help mankind...but it was not to be. It was more a reminiscence of Fong's time as an internist, and recounting of various modern day medical stories. So to begin with I was pretty annoyed that I wasn't getting what I had expected, but to be honest the book as it is, *is* pretty interesting. We do learn a great deal about medicine - told in terms a layperson can understand - and about advances in medical care and how the determination of a patient can tip the scales for the better... So I do recommend this book for anyone who is interested in healthcare and medicine and how doctors are helping patients through hypothermia, burn victims...all the way through to what astronauts will have to face on the way to Mars due to the health deterioration caused by weightlessness (as a matter of fact, what astronauts today have gone through - those that have lived on the space station for months at a time.) If you're looking for how exotic plants or animals might help improve medical care, this is not the book for you. If you're looking ot learn how doctors have helped people who have suffered extreme health issues due to accident, check it out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Who Owns America's Past?: The Smithsonian and the Problem of History; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert C. Post Page; Review: I don't know that "Who Owns America's Past?" is an appropriate title for this excellent book. The impetus for the book supposedly was the 1994 brouhaha, when the Smithsonian wanted to honor the men of the Enola Gay who had helped to bring World War II to a very quick end by dropping an "atom bomb" on Hioshima, by displaying the craft at the National Air and Space Museum. But it's really a history of the museum, and how its directors shaped its progress by putting together various exhibits throughout the years. Through the years, the way exhibits have been set up have also changed (not only at the NASM but in all museums) and author Robert Post explains *why* as well as how. Of course Post spends time on the Enola Gay controversy and the rise of political correctness in its wake. This is a fascinating narrative and i highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ariadne Objective: The Underground War to Rescue Crete from the Nazis; Author: Visit Amazon's Wes Davis Page; Review: I enjoy World War II movies, but it had been probably twenty years since I'd seen Ill Met By Moonlight, starring Dirk Bogarde (1957). At the time I must have thought it was just a made-up adventure story....but when I started reading The Ariadne Objective, bells began to ring. So cool! (The movie - and this book, tell the story of the kidnapping of a German general on Crete, something that inspired the inhabitants of Crete no end!) This is not a dry historical retelling of the activities of the "Resistance" on the island of Crete - the four British "gentlemen spies" who infiltrated occupied Crete to work with the Cretan partisans against the Nazis. It reads exactly like an adventure novel - but better than that because it's all true. The notes that back up the narrative are quite extensive - always a necessity with this kind of work. Wes Davis is an excellent writer and while it's a cliche to say he "kept us on the edge of our seats," I have to admit the book was a page turner. Davis also gives abbreviated accounts of what happened to many of the protagonists after the war.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ten Lords A-Leaping: A Father Christmas Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's C. C. Benison Page; Review: There are two main types of detective stories - one in which we meet all the characters first, get to know them, a murder occurs, and the detective shows up, and one in which we meet the detective first of all, and then he stumbles onto a murder. That is the case with Ten Lords a-Leaping, where we first meet Father Christmas jumping out of an airplane as part of a church fund raiser. After the jump, in which he injures his ankle, he is invited to stay at the home of the Dowager Countess Marguerite, Lady Fairhaven, where he encounters murder. Unfortunately, I really couldn't get into this book. It's one of those where you can't tell who the characters are without a score card. And while the cast of characters is presented in the front of the book, their relationships were so labyrinthine that I really couldn't keep them straight. In addition, amateur detectives - as well as professionals, really do need a personality that sets them apart from others, and I found Tom Chrismas rather a boring character. This is apparently one of a series of books featuring Christmas, vicar of St. Nicholas Church, in Thornford Regis, and perhaps if I'd started with the first book in the series I would have done better with this installment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Oberon's Dreams (The Godlanders War); Author: Visit Amazon's Aaron Pogue Page; Review: There are dozens of fantasy series out there...and I often wonder if it's possible for a writer to come up with anything new. Aaron Pggue, with Oberon's Dreams, has done just that. Pogue is the author of the Dragonprince Trilogy and the Ghost Targets series, and I've never read them - this was my first introduction to his work but I liked it so much that I'll be seeking out his other work. Pogue has created a world that is fresh and complex, and that "works." Fairies, dwarves, druids, and elves populate the city of Jezeeli, but magic will soon be at war with technology. The characters come to life vividly, from hero Hugh Corin to the manipulative Oberon to the evil and villainous Ephitel. The story is labyrinthine, puzzling, and suspenseful. It will keep you reading page after page.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flying Blind: One Man's Adventures Battling Buckthorn, Making Peace with Authority, and Creating a Home for Endangered Bats; Author: Visit Amazon's Don Mitchell Page; Review: I became interested in caves and bats a few years ago, after reading Nevada Barr's Blind Descent. Well..bats actually didn't figure in Blind Descent, but my interest extrapolated from that. Caves = bats, after all. There are many species of bats and the only one we ever hear about is the vampire bat - which attacks animals, not humans, by the way! I'm also interested in ecology and the preservation of habitat for wild species. So I was very hopeful with Flying Blind, One Man's Adventures Battling Buckthorn, Making Peace with Authority, and Creating A Home for Endangered Bats, and it did not disappoint. Mitchell tells this true life story extremely well - he is an excellent writer and his descriptive passages are very evocative. The subheading "Making Peace with Authority" is an apt one, as Mitchell tells all about his misadventures with bureaucracy, to which we can all relate. If you're interested in ecology, in habitat preservation, or yes, bats, and the methods used to study them, I think you will really enjoy this book.l; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Social Physics: How Social Networks Can Make Us Smarter; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Pentland Page; Review: As I read through Alex Pentland's Social Physics, I couldn't help but think that Ayn Rand would be shaking her head in horror. The book talks about concepts that are all about collectivism - a single person can't come up with a good or great idea - it only occurs when a group of like-minded people get together. It's certainly a lesson in crowd-think, how one person won't break away from the crowd but will follow others - exactly what Ayn Rand writes about in her novels and in her books on her philosophy, Objectivism. I also thought it interesting that Kirkland never uses the term, "getting a bird's eye view" of an issue or idea. He also refers to it as getting a "god's-eye view." Now *that's* an interesting insight into his own nature! Kirkland's writing is repetitive at times. I think this is designed to be a textbook, he'll spend a couple of paragraphs on a certain subject and tehn, and a couple of paragraphs later repeat the whole thing. Pentland is the director of MIT's Humab Dynamics Laboratory and co-leads the World Economic Forum "Big Data" and "Personal Data" initiatives. So he had no end of test subjects to study in order to write this book, and it's the tests he and his team subjected people to, and the conclusions he draws, that I find fascinating, frightening, and a little depressing. For example, he talks about a group of traders using the program eToro, which enabled him and his team at MIT to examine 10 million financial transactions. That's a pretty large test group - much better than the 1,000 people typically polled (with the polls then extrapolated to talk about the habits of millions of people and then reported as facts about all these millions of people). This is a fascinating book and I recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being Cool: The Work of Elmore Leonard; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles J. Rzepka Page; Review: I approached this book from the opposite direction than probably 99% of other readers. If I see a movie based on a book, and like it, I typically don't read the book afterwords, because the book is rarely as good as the movie. I saw the original 3:10 To Yuma (not on its original release, I hasten to add) and Get Shorty starring John Travolta, liked them...and so while I would go see another film based on an Elmore Leonard novel, I didn't plan on reading any of his books. Then I came across Being Cool: The Work of Elmore Leonard, which claimed to be (and is) a critical exploration of his work. Since I am a writer myself, and am interested in the development of characters, I decided to read this book as an exercise in learning how to create characters. One of the by-products of reading this book is that I intend to seek out Leonard's ouvre - beginning in his early days, with his Westerns, and read them in order. There are two types of criticism. I can criticize a book in a book review, say it's poorly written, etc., and that's a superficial kind of criticism. Being Cool is a book of in-depth criticism, author Rzepka goes through many of Leonard's novel and defines what makes each protagonist "cool." IN fact, I like Rzepka's definition of "cool," so different from what people today believe it is - walking around with conspicuous wealth, aka bling dripping off you and women hanging on both arms as well as bring up the rear (those awful "the most interesting man in the world commercials" spring to mind, as well as rap and rock musicians....) According to Rzepka's definition, in his introduction, "Feeling 'natural' in what you do is what I call...'being cool.'Leonard himself has deigned 'cool; as 'without pretension of any kind, simply being yourself. And of course, remaining reasonably calm." and "Ryan (Jack Ryan, Leonard's protagonist in Ryan's Rules, not to be confused with Clancy's Jack Ryan) ..understands that real "cool" is a matter of self-integration, self-possession, being the same person in all circumstances, even the most challenging and nerve-wracking, whether you're fighting for your life on the roof of a five-story building or pretending to be someone you're not." This is a scholarly work, so of course it is written in a scholarly way. Leonard's use of tropes and memes are examined in detail, in how he creates his characters - most of them flawed, some of them on the wrong side of the law, some doomed to die. Since I have not read the books Rzepka cites (yet) I can't state whether he took the best examples or if his descriptions of the actions were the best possible - but I'd have to say that they *were* because they've inspired me to want to read the material. The danger with literary criticism is that it can on occasion render the books it discusses, dull. That is not the case with Rzepka's Being Cool. It's partly because Leonard's characters and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Studio Saint-Ex; Author: Visit Amazon's Ania Szado Page; Review: That sounds like a dismissive title, and I don't mean it to be. The thing is, *I* don't like chick lit, and in the normal course of things this is not the type of book I would have read - a woman during WWII attempting to start a business as a fashion designer, having an affair with a famous and tragically doomed aviator...and with his wife... If the tragically doomed aviator in question had not been the real life Antoine de Saint-Exupery, I wouldn't have read it. I have all of Saint-Exupery's works, and it's a pity that these days all anyone seems to have read is The Little Prince. I have actually read a memoir - decades ago - by a woman who had been hired as a translator for the Saint-Exupery's while they were in the United States - which was the first I'd heard of the "private" Saint-Exupery and his relationship with Consuelo, his wife. ... and I think interest was renewed in him again in 1998, when the wreckage of his plane was found in the Mediterranean Sea. Saint-Exupery had a complicated relationship with his wife Consuelo, which is very much in evidence in Studio Saint Ex. The book switches narratives -between fashion designer Mignonne Lachapelle, a Canadian who returns to New York when she learns that her fashion designs have been stolen by her professor and are now a big hit, and then told from the perspective of Consuelo de Saint-Exupery. I found some of the narrative - of both women - powerful - but the intrigues got on my nerves after a while, for all that something similar probably happened in real life. Author Szado does provide an afterword in which she gives the real ilfe history of some of her characters - and points out that the relationships as told in her book are fictional. The last words of the afterword: "Antoine de SAint-Exupery's many biographers differ significantly in their interpretation of this complicated and contradictory man and his tempestuous wife." So I say, if you're interested in Saint-Exupery, read those biographies. If you like chick-lit - and it does keep your interest - read this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Consider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible; Author: Visit Amazon's Debbie Blue Page; Review: I'm an atheist. I've only recently become interested in the Christian Bible is one of just seeing why and how religion influences the masses. I reveal this fact because I am not as well-versed in the Bible as your average Christian. I was intrigued by this book not only because I like birds...I'm a bird photography collector to a very small degree - and I wanted to see just what the bird imagery was in the Bible. Author Debbie Blue deals with 10 specific birds mentioned in the Bible: the Pigeon (Purity and Impurity} [and which is the same as a Dove], the Pelican (Sacrifice and Gift), the Quail (Desire and Slavery), the Vulture (ugliness and beauty), the Eagle (power and vulnerability), The Ostrich (comedy and tragedy), the Sparrow (contempt and passion), the cock (cockiness and betrayal), the Hen (freedom and domestication) and the Raven (failure and trust.) Lauren Winner, in her foreword, states, in praising Blue's writing, "I could tell you how irreverent she is. I could tell you that though irreverent, she is also deeply reverent. I could tell you about her quirky perspective, and her even quirkier voice." It is her quirky voice ...and her repetitive voice, that irritated me as I made my way through this book. Blue has lots of interesting information to impart, but she then segues into quirkiness and her own interpretation of things that I simply found annoying. ("The appearance of the spirit of God as a dove at Jesus' baptism can surely be read as something more profound than pigeon post." ) I don't know if her irreverent voice that she uses at times would annoy Christians (for example when speaking of the dove as "pigeon post".... The Bible is of course nothing if not repetitive. ("So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them). Blue's repetitions don't come quite as close on one another, but she does seem to discuss a topic...then a few pages later reiterate it. She also shares a lot of personal details..her life in the country of Minnesota, and extrapolates her experiences into her insights into the Bible... Blue's knowledge of the Bible (and of birds) seems to be profound, and when she stuck to that sort of thing, I enjoyed the book immensely, as she did have lots of interesting insights into how the character of Jesus, and the character of various of his disciples, has changed over the course of time, depending on who was doing the interpreting for their own ends. If you don't mind quirkiness, you'll enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Life in Middlemarch; Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Mead Page; Review: I had never read Middlemarch prior to reading this book, nor Mill on the Floss. I was intrigued by it more because it was the memoir of a woman - a writer - whose life had been profoundly affected by a single book, in her case Middlemarch. (My own life has been effected by several books - some non-fiction, some fiction.) By the time I was a third of the way through I was ready to check out Middlemarch from the library and read it simultaneously with this book. Rebecca Mead is a professional writer and this is quite evident in this book. She writes well and enlighteningly about George Eliot, as well as such other authors as Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf. It doesn't matter if you've read Middlemarch or not - if you want to learn about the power of writing in one's life, you'll want to read this book. (And by the end you'll be ready to read George Eliot's work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dear Abigail: The Intimate Lives and Revolutionary Ideas of Abigail Adams and Her Two Remarkable Sisters; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Jacobs Page; Review: When I ordered this book, I thought it was going to be a collection of letters between the three sisters, with perhaps a little historic commentary between each letter to put things into perspective. Instead, it's a biography, with excerpts - usually brief ones - used to flesh out and provide proof for each assertion made. Frankly I would have preferred the collection of letters, even unannotated ones. Nevertheless, I've always had a fondness for Abigail Adams, and so found the book fascinating, with new insights of her, her sisters and her husband. All of the letters quoted are listed in the notes, but alas, there is no index (at least, not in my review copy.) Anyone interested in women in history, the history of the founding of the United States, or John and Abigail Adams in general will find this thorough and detailed book of great interest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loopers: A Caddie's Twenty-Year Golf Odyssey; Author: Visit Amazon's John Dunn Page; Review: I don't play golf, but I love watching it...when Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods is playing. (Phil because I want him to win, Tiger because I want him to lose. : ) ) Nevertheless I do find the game fascinating, with the interaction between the caddies and the golfers. So I read Loopers with interest. Author John Dunn didn't caddy for the stars, but rather for journeyman players, and this is the story of how he looks for work (how does one become a caddy, anyway? - Learn here!) and his adventures on the road and with the intimate side of golf, the side that only players and of course caddies, see. It actually sounds like a pretty good life. The book has no index, and I always find it annoying when non-fiction books, even memoirs, have no index. Apart from that, this book is excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Called Again: A Story of Love and Triumph; Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Pharr Davis Page; Review: I'm not an adventurous soul...that's why I love reading about the adventurous - folks who will go out and swim the English Channel, climb mountains, or in this case, hike the Appalachian Trail. Several times. At speed. Jennifer Pharr Davis introduces us to her world - and it's a fascinating one. Like any other individual who has reached the top in her sport, she lives in the rarified air. Only a few people can do what she can do. As well as the intimate and detailed story of hiking the trail, she also talks about her personal life, of course, for the two are intertwined. As Davis says at the beginning, "I had lost my first love [... ] Over the past two years, we had hiked to the highest point in the lower 48-states, we had forded rivers with torrents of water that rose past our waists, we had crossed snowfields where only our ice axes prevented us from sliding to our deaths. If we could overcome all that, why couldn't we overcome ourselves?" This is a powerful story of a strong woman - in ever sense of the word. Read it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edison and the Rise of Innovation; Author: Visit Amazon's Leonard DeGraaf Page; Review: Edison was a fascinating man, and this book does his life and times justice. The hardcover book is top quality, on glossy heavy-weight paper, as befits the subject. The book consists of 233 pages, plus Notes, Resources, Acknowledgments, and index. Sepia photos are scattered throughout the book. The TOC: The Education of an Innovator 2. The Invention Factory 3. The Tinfoil Phonograph 4. A Big Bonanza: Edison's Electric Lighting System 5. From Menlo Park to West Orange 6. A Phonograph in every Home 7. Motion pictures8. Portland Cement 9. Storage Battery 10. Edison in WWI 11. Rubber 12. Remembering the Wizard This book is thoroughly researched. The author tells the story well, in the chronological way that I love. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen: A Culinary View of Lincoln's Life and Times; Author: Visit Amazon's Rae Katherine Eighmey Page; Review: I am not a C(r)ook. Okay, I couldn't resist that pun... Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen, even though I personally do not cook. (Yes, I confess, I microwave everything.) Nevertheless it was fascinating to learn the actual foods that people during Lincoln's era would have eaten, and how it needed to be prepared. Made me glad I was a woman in the 21st century. The only flaw in this intriguing and even at times thought-provoking book were that all the recipes (55 of them) were at the ends of chapters - I would have wished they'd all been placed for easy access at the end of the book. There are end-notes providing references for each of the recipes or methods of preparing food for cooking, but no index. Because the recipes are updated for modern cooking - anyone with a mind to can cook foods such as Corn Dodgers and Egg Corn Bread, Pint Cake, New Orleans Chicken Curry, Picalilli and Mock Mock Turtle Soup, as well as many more. Highly recommended for foodies, as well as those interested in life in the 19th century, and of course Abraham Lincoln.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ender's Game and Philosophy: The Logic Gate is Down; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin S. Decker Page; Review: Ender's Game started out as a novella which was expanded into a novel, and then more novels followed on from that. I've only read the novella, and quite enjoyed it. (I haven't seen the movie - but no essays in this book discuss the movie, so that's all right.) The genesis for this book was, I'm sure, the movie, and I am sure that the book was written with designs that it be a textbook used for philosophy courses. For the "average" reader, it might be hard going, but the various essays certainly raise interesting issues. It's also not really necessary for the reader to have read (or seen) Ender's Game to get any profit from these essays, since the book takes Ender's Game as a jumping off point to talk about a variety of moral issues. The book is discussed in enough detail so people who haven't read Ender's Game will find themselves intrigued enough to read it, and those who have read it will of course find that it resonates throughout all the essays. The essays cover five subjects: 1. THIRD: The Making of an Impossible Child 2. GAME: Cooperation or Confrontation 3. HIVE-QUEEN: All Together Now 4. WAR: Kill or be killed 5. HEGEMON: The terrible things are only abut to begin And the subjects themselves, covered in from three to four essays by a variety of authors: 1. Children's education 2. The philosophical connection between war and games 3. Understanding People who present themselves [or are presented as] our enemies 4. Ethics in time of war 5. Mankind's future - children in a world that war and invasion have created You may not agree with conclusions drawn, but you'll learn a lot and you'll think a lot, too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Abbott Page; Review: Prior to reading this book, I had read read and reviewed Sky Jumpers, another new series for teens. I was pleased that Sky Jumpers was a stand-alone book, even though it was part of a series. The Forbidden Stone, on the other hand, ends on a cliff-hanger, and it's so annoying to have to wait for the next installment in the series. That annoyance aside, The Forbidden Stone was pretty good. Written for teens, so we've got the childish bantering between the two step-brothers, Wade and Darrell (as opposed to the sophisticated bantering that would happen between adults), and the bantering with their cousin Lily. And the teen-age puppy love angst between character Darrell and Lily's friend Becca. The Hidden Stone opens cryptically, with retired professor Heinrich Vogel being murdered at the behest of a young woman with mismatched eyes, just after sending a cryptic email to Wade's uncle Henry regarding a star map that five students of Vogel had been given 20 years ago...a map which Henry had subsequently given to Wade which had ignited his interest in astronomy. There are many such "solve the puzzles and go on a quest" teen books on the market, I liked this one because of the intriguing concept of astronomy and Nicolas Copernicus, and science fiction and time travel. A fast-moving story, for all that it is the first of 6 in the series... Check it out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sky Jumpers: Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Peggy Eddleman Page; Review: Most books for kids have morals - "it's okay to be different," "you can still contribute even if you're smaller than everyone else," "friends are important," "girls are just as good as boys in doing... [whatever]. There's a trio of characters here, the girl, Hope, and the boys, Aaren and Brock, have to save their little corner of the world. At least in *this* series, Hope, the girl is the lead character and the boys are *her* sidekicks. Normally it's the other way around. (I'm reviewing this children's book, as i do all, from the perspective of being a woman looking for kid's books that empower girls - but emphasize that teamwork with boys is important!) Peggy Eddleman has crafted a believable post-apocalyptic world (a trope that I have to admit I'm getting tired of...but this is a good book in that genre), with believable problems and people, and enough science fiction to make it fun. Sky jumping for example is described so beautifully - you long to go out and attempt it yourself. Well-plotted, the narrative by the 12-year old Hope is believable and intriguing, and even though this is book 1 in a series, the book has a definite end which I much prefer to cliffhangers. Girls and boys will love this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Women Who Don't Wait in Line: Break the Mold, Lead the Way; Author: Visit Amazon's Reshma Saujani Page; Review: The back matter of Saujani's book says it all: "We live in an era where girls are told they can do anything. So why aren't we seeing more women rising to the top ranks of corporation and government? Why don't our girls have more women in leadership roles to look up to?" My own personal view is that the mass media view of women is too pervasive, with its indoctrination of girls at a young age that if they are self-confident and dare to give orders they are considered bossy (ever seen Dexter's Laboratory, Arthur, etc.), they all must be slender, they all must have boyfriends and must on no account leave high school with their virginity because that's proof they were unable to get a boyfriend, etc. etc.) (And sadly, of course girls buy into these stereotypes and reinforce them as well). In any event, Women Who Don't Wait in Line is an excellent handbook for girls who want to be leaders. It's a slim volume, and Reshma Saujani gives examples from her own life to illustrate the principles. The chapters: Fail fast, fail first, fail hard Unapologetically ambitious Don't worry if they don't like you Follow your bliss Be authentic Building a sisterhood for the 21st century Taking it to the Streets Recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The House Without a Key: A Charlie Chan Mystery (Charlie Chan Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Earl Derr Biggers Page; Review: I only just discovered these oversized reprints of the Chariie Chan mysteries, and have compiled a complete set. I love Chan and have a collection of all of em - not the expensive first editions, but the paperback reprints, and they're pretty fun - just to see the covers and how some are great and some wildly inappropriate for the subject matter (the 60s publisher were notorious for giving every mystery with a female in it a Gothic cover), Anyway, The House Without A Key is the first book in the Charlie Chan series and the best, for all that he doesn't appear until a third of the way through the book. The whole ambiance of Hawaii, 1920s is evoked wonderfully.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Octonauts Creature Report; Author: Grosset & Dunlap; Review: I'm 50 years old and I love the Octonauts. There, I've said it and I'm glad. This cartoon show is excellent for children - male and female characters and although the trio of male characters (Captain Barnacles, Kwazii and Peso) have most of the adventures, engineer and inventor Tweak and photographer and navigator Dashi provide invaluable service to the team as well (as does Shellington and Tunip...professor Inkling not so much!) This oversize book covers 50 of the creatures that the Octonauts have encountered in their adventures. Written very simply, lots of illustrations...it is a fun read and even adults will feel they have learned about the denizens of the deep from reading this book. And there are a lot of stickers - mostly of the Octonauts but also of the creatures covered in the book. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton; Author: Visit Amazon's Meghan McCarthy Page; Review: Betty Skelton is one of my favorite pilots...at one time she was billed as the fastest woman on earth because of her feats as a race car driver. I think this book would be very inspiring for little kids...except for one problem. The illustrations - normally so good in these types of books - really let this one down. I prefer at least semi-realistic illustrations - these ones were definitely for kids. Competently done... but just...too childish. Nevertheless, get it for the story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie Cummins Page; Review: I collect women in aviation memorabilia and books about women in aviation. A lot of books for kids have absolutely gorgeous illustrations and this one is no exception. The first paragraph was kind of amusing... (Ruth Elder didn't look at all like her name. At twenty-three years old she was a beauty queen with a sparkling personality, a smile as bright as a toothpaste ad, and plenty of pluck.") I'm familiar with the feats of Ruth Elder and this book captures the highlights perfectly. It's a lot of fun to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gnomes Of The Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Itzik Klein Page; Review: As the aunt of a young boy who never puts his clothes or his toys away, this cute story resonated with me, and I will be using it as a bed time book each time I baby sit him! Itzik Klein ha s written a fun narrative of a little boy who doesnt realize the importance of putting stuff away whether its the dishes from the table, or his clothing before he goes to bed. His dad attempts to teach him a lesson by pointing out that the Gnomes of the Night will come and take away all of his stuff if he doesnt put them in their proper places. Ryan is clever and turns the tables on his dad, but by the end of the book he has learned his lesson. The illustrations are very well done by Fanny Liem. Theyre just the right practically-realistic characters that I enjoy. And the colors are so bright that they practically pop off the screen of my Kindle Fire, highlighting one of the benefits of reading an illustrated book on an e-reader rather than on the flat page of a book. Itzik Klein tells his story in rhyming form, and he has to work a bit to make some of the rhymes come about (in other words, a couple of them are a wee bit tortuous), but that actually adds to the charm of the book. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duplicate Death; Author: Visit Amazon's Georgette Heyer Page; Review: Georgette Heyer is most well known for her historical romances, but to be frank I much prefer her mysteries. Yes, they all take place in the 1930s and are "cozy" mysteries - no graphic sex or violence. But they are well-written with generous helpings of humor, and we are taken back into "dated death" as I like to call it - the milieu of the 1930s and what life was like back then for the upper class men and women who populate Heyer's story (and the ones who depopulate those stories through murder!) If you're a bridge lover you'll get a kick out of this (although in that regard it doesn't rival Christie's Cards on the Table) and if you just like British mysteries you'll love this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Is That a Word?: From AA to ZZZ, the Weird and Wonderful Language of SCRABBLE; Author: Visit Amazon's David Bukszpan Page; Review: The author goes through a list of the more egregious words in the Scrabble dictionary and provides their definitions. It's a lot of fun. I know lots of people simply learn the words but don't care what they mean. I on the other hand want to memorize not only the entire Scrabble dictionary word list, but also what each word means. This book is a good starting point for word nerds...or as I prefer to call us, word birds - raptors set to pounce on the appropriate word at the appropriate time when the tile gods bless us...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eat Meat And Stop Jogging:; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Sheridan Page; Review: I first learned about the power of advertising many years ago when I visited Europe for a month - and was shocked to find that in no restaurant was milk served. That's all you hear about in the States - drink a lot of milk because it's got calcium and will keep your bones strong. But in Europe they drink water, tea, coffee, juice, etc., - and you don't hear about an osteoporosis epidemic over there, do you? Then I came across the news byte that the diet industry is a multi-*billion* dollar industry - and then you understand why Mike Sheridan has written this book Eat Meat and Stop Jogging which exposes a lot of the myths about weight loss, weight gain, what's healthy to eat and what's not. I have lost about 30 pounds since I started a diet/exercise regime several months ago, but when I ground to a halt during winter time I thought I'd better see if there was anything I could do. I found this book and learned about the myths of exercise (aerobic exercise isn't actually that good for you - weight training *is* because muscle consumes more calories than fat). I'm aware that more than half of all people who lose weight gain it all back and more after five years - I do not intend that to happen to me. I'll be picking up Sheridan's next book, Live It NOT Diet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1% Fitness: Move Better. Train Smarter. Live Longer.; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Sheridan Page; Review: I recently purchased Mike Sheridan's book Eat Meat and Stop Jogging, and was impressed with it. I decided to move on to 1% Fitness, which expands on all of Sheridan's advice and highlights the importance of weight training over cardiovascular (jogging and running.) ( I have to admit that as a biker during the summer time, I have to look away when I see a runner go past me, face streaming with sweat, looking like they're in pain - when riding a bike is a lot more fun, better exercise for your legs as it builds muscle. only you get done a lot quicker!) But I digress. I was a bit surprised when I got to the end of the book to find that all the weight training exercises weren't there - but since I purchased the book I was able to go online to the author's site and get access to videos of each exercise for free. (He sends you a coupon code for this.) The only other flaw is that some of the illustrations - photos of basic weight exercises - are a bit too small to see. Nevertheless, I found the authoritative info in this book to be very empowering - when I reached the video section on the corresponding website I was quite pleased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Jackal's Head; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Peters Page; Review: I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Peters. I prefer her books *as* Elizabeth Peters to those she wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Michaels, although there are some pretty good ones there, too. The Jackals' Head is one of her earlier books, and while her heroine is "strong and independent" she is not quite as "strong and independent" as those that will come. Peters (real name Barbara Mertz, of course) had a degree in Egyptology and had been to Egypt several times, so she knows what she's talking about, not only while setting the scenes but also with the archeology itself. The mysteries are very much in the Agatha Christie mode, though Peters is a more evocative writer and the books are more than just mysteries. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Napa Winery Inn; City: Napa Napa Valley California; Review: I had a great stay at the Napa Winery Inn; comfortable rooms and friendly staff. It has a boutique hotel feel. We started out the day with a complimentary breakfast and started out the night with a complementary wine reception. I noticed it is pet friendly so next time I'll bring my little buddy with me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sandos Finisterra Los Cabos; City: Cabo San Lucas Los Cabos Baja California; Review: I stayed her with girlfriends. It was fabulous. Our room was simple but very spacious,comfortable, and had a killer view with a balcony. There were fancier more modern rooms to choose from if one desires. We went the all-inclusive route. I woke up very morning, went to the gym then grabbed an iced coffee at hotels coffee shop, "the cupcake cafe" and sat overlooking the view of the entire marina. From my bedroom I was able to see the pool area and the ocean. I watched whales swim by as well as boats. The hotel is in a unique location. The ocean side is very private. Swimming on the beach is not allowed, but I think it's work the privacy. It's a short walk down the hill to the marina. You can walk around the marina to the swimmable beach in about 20 to 30 mins or take a water taxi for $5 straight to the beach. The food at the hotel was good; some things were better than others, but there were several dinning options included with the all-inclusive option. The staff was attentive and friendly and the security at the hotel was tight. They would not let outsiders in the gates and checked every car coming into the property. I will definitely return and stay again. I can't imagine staying anywhere else.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dingle Marina Lodge; City: Dingle Dingle Peninsula County Kerry; Review: We had a wonderful 1 night stay at the Dingle Marina Lodge. Friendly staff and great value. Our room was clean and cozy; the beds and bedding were comfortable. Our bathroom was surprisingly spacious filled with natural light from a sky light. The Location was perfect. Next to the water and right in town. We did not opt for the 5 Euro breakfast, so I can't comment on that, but I greatly enjoyed the free coffee in the lobby. I would recommend this B&B to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bayview House B B; City: Galway County Galway Western Ireland; Review: The B&B staff could not have been nicer, plus they accommodated our early arrival without hesitation. Our small room and a private bathroom suited us just fine for our 1 night stay in Galway. My two criticisms: 1. It's really loud when guest come home from the clubs at 3am. Doors opening/closing and toilets flushing. The noise lasts for about an hour. 2. The sheets. They are scratchy. Please upgrade to better quality sheets; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Gregory Hotel New York; City: New York City New York; Review: We stayed at the Gregory over a long weekend. We had a beautiful and large room; especially for Manhattan. The Subway was less than a block away and Macy’s is also right there. The staff was welcoming and gracious. The building had a few quirks in the way old buildings do,such as: the radiator heating and small elevator. Half of the lobby was creatively decorated to reflect the historic character of the garment district. The other half of the lobby was fairly bare with an empty bar. I would stay at the Gregory again. Hopefully that bar will be put to use with a wine reception.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Julie & Julia; Brand: Meryl Streep; Review: the grand kids like it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; Brand: Maggie Smith; Review: it bordered on boring; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saving Mr. Banks; Brand: Emma Thompson; Review: ok but not great; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Game of Thrones - Season 4 2015; Brand: ; Review: loved it and just waiting for the next season release; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outlander - Season 1; Brand: Caitriona Balfe; Review: really enjoyed it and have season 2 on order; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Imitation Game; Brand: ; Review: a very interesting an entertaining movie; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outlander: Season One - Volume Two; Brand: Sam Heughan; Review: not as entertaining as volume one and i object to season one being broken up into 2 volumes; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Masterpiece: Downton Abbey Season 5; Brand: Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Jim Carter Hugh Bonneville; Review: a great story, i am sorry it ends with the sixth season.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Strangeland VHS; Brand: Kevin Gage; Review: Dee Snider is the coolest. Strange Land is killer ChaptHowdy rule's. The freakyest online movie there is. Dee Snider is the master of scary He know how to make a movie that rules that has style and that's so out of it. Dee Snider know's how to make a movie and music go together so if you'r. Lookin to buy a good movie get Dee Snider's Strange Land.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caress of the Vampire VHS; Brand: Paulina Monet; Review: This movie is one of the best lesbian soft-core movies I've seen and if like this film then you'll like the rest of Seduction Cinema's movies.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Mandarin Chinese Edition); Brand: Ewan McGregor; Review: I love it. It put it all together to tell how it all happens. Darth Vator,Luc,Lea and Obi One. Now I wonder what will happen next? I read after 6 Han and Lea have kids.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X-men 3: The Last Stand Icons; Brand: Hugh Jackman; Review: X-Men the Last Stand was the best yet. you have to own this movie. I can't wait for X-Men 4 to come out in the theaters it will be good. The spin offs will be something to wait for too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Emanuelle in America; Brand: Laura Gemser; Review: This is one of the best Emanuelle movies. If you want to see the really good Emanuelle films get the ones that star Laura Gemser. She doesn't in any of them but her co-stars do and it makes up for it. So I really recommend any Emanuelle fan to buy this movie you won't be sorry and is the one of the best.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Serbian Film (2010) ( Srpski film ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]; Brand: ; Review: This would have to be one of the worst films ever made. It's descusting this film way beyond The Cannibal Holocaust and The Human Centipede. Even I who says nothing should be banned says this film needs to be banned.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Man on the Moon VHS; Brand: Jim Carrey; Review: Another Great Jim Carrey movie, the biography of comedian Andy Kaufman and Jim Carrey makes you believe that he is Andy Kaufman, and of course you have REM song's Man on the Moon and the Great Beyond.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disturbing Behavior VHS; Brand: James Marsden; Review: Disturbing Behavior is one of a number of very cool movies Katie Holmes did while she was on Dawson's Creek, I really liked this movie a lot and it had the really cool song Got You Where I Want You by the Flys.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: M*A*S*H VHS; Brand: Donald Sutherland; Review: Mash is so damn funny another good movie from the 1970's, it stars Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye Pierce and Elliott Gould as Trapper John making jokes to stay sane while being surgeons in the Korean War.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Private Parts VHS; Brand: Howard Stern; Review: Private Parts the story and biography of Howard Stern and how he became who he is today, I loved this movie, it's the movie anyone who loves Howard Stern and freedom of speech.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Batman Legacy Four Film Giftset VHS; Brand: Michael Keaton; Review: I liked Batman 1 and 2 with Michael Keaton, I still liked and the rest of the movies too but they are kind of cheesy but still good, so I do recommend if you are a real Batman fan then you should buy this box set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Truman Show VHS; Brand: Jim Carrey; Review: One of Jim Carrey's very good movies it might not have been one of his funniest but it was one of his coolest though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She's All That; Brand: Freddie Prinze Jr.; Review: A feel good coming of age movie that puts a smile on your face, that's what this movie did for me and it made me happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Truman Show VHS; Brand: Jim Carrey; Review: One of Jim Carrey's very good movies it might not have been one of his funniest but it was one of his coolest though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Line Jason Slasher Collection; Brand: Various; Review: You need to buy this box set if you really are a fan of the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Craft; Brand: Robin Tunney; Review: I really loved this movie when it came out in theaters, a really great movie about witches doing magic on their enemies and each other by the end of the film, it's a really fun movie and it's a must have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie: 4 Film Collection; Brand: ; Review: A coming of age funny but raunchy comedy, American Pie was a really funny movie about a bunch of high school friends finding about sex and it's a really good movie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rated X; Brand: Charlie Sheen; Review: Other great movie about freedom of speech Rated X is about the Mitchell brothers, the making of Behind the Green Door, thiers lives how one killed the other and starring real brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette French Quarter Area Hotel; City: New Orleans Louisiana; Review: First impressions of this boutique type hotel were not good: street looks like an alley with construction& lots of abandoned buildings,no doorman, juggling bags through manual doors with no help in sight, inadequate number of staff to check-in in a reasonable time, tiny check in area, small elevator, weak shower, very plain cheap furnishings in room, old fashioned ( not flat panel HD) TV, no Wi-Fi in rooms , coffee maker located far away from any place to plug it in, bathroom door which slammed shut, etc. But then the place kind of grew on us: Location was close to everything, these types of streets and abandoned buildings are common and part of charm of New Orleans, if cab had dropped us off in motor lobby ( instead of at street entrance) there were fine automatic doors (note: be sure & have cab drop you off a motor lobby/parking entrance if you have bags), the lounge area leading to check in area was quite nice, what staff there was tried hard & was knowledgeable, some elevators were normal size & elevators usually came fairly quickly, when asked staff quickly fixed shower ( clogged strainer in shower head assembly…..be sure to check shower when you arrive & ask them to fix if it is poor) and bathroom door, TV reception & picture were good (though we did miss AMC channel), hard line internet service was fine & free to elite guests, coffee maker was on tray & ,while inconvenient , we did find a place to plug it in (electric outlets were, in general, poorly placed and there were not enough of them near desk), bed was quite comfortable ( we slept very well), maid service was prompt & quite good, room was not huge but big enough and concierge lounge, while smallish , was quite good(eggs & bacon plus usual continental breakfast stuff in AM, a hot dish & fresh baked cookies in evening) - and ladies staffing it were excellent; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton London Paddington; City: London England; Review: We were upgraded to a “ Double Hilton Deluxe” room which was quite large, with what seemed to be a king sized bed ( though they did not call it that- it was quite comfy & had decent, large pillows). Room was very well sound insulated, even with windows open ( which was needed to keep room cool enough on a cold December day). We also were given access to main restaurant for a great buffet breakfast in lieu of access to executive lounge, which was small & only for executive floor(which they would have offered if not fully booked) guests There was one large table ( with chairs), two smaller tables & a desk…plenty of flat surfaces on which my wife could put things. It also had an average (about 32”, not HD) flat screen TV, a real coffee maker ( not just a boiler & instant coffee) and a large bathroom with a great shower/tub. There was an insulated ice bucket in room and an ice maker nearby in hall. Towels were large & soft. Hotel is attached to Paddington Station so underground & Paddington express (& other) trains were very convenient….. Also lots of good reasonably priced restaurants nearby. Only complaint was that, on first day (we stayed only 2 days) our room was not made up until after 2 PM ( which we found very inconvenient, when we got back at 2 PM and wanted to rest)…apparently they do not have an adequate number of maids….I’d suggest specifically asking for early service if you need it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Indigo London Paddington; City: London England; Review: Great Boutique hotel! We especially loved (40”+) HD TV! Great staff, OK sized room, though bathroom was a bit tight (& shower door opening so narrow we had to enter sideways). Great shower (w/large diameter shower head above & “wand” option) with great pressure & hot water. Bed was very comfy; we were on second floor overlooking street & could hear outside traffic ( and partying) even though windows were tightly closed ( but we like this type of “atmosphere”). Location is great( short walk to Paddington Tube Stations & Heathrow Express, lots of good, reasonably priced restaurants nearby etc). WI-FI was free for us & very good. Restaurant/ lounge looked great, but we did no use it. Only one smallish elevator, but we never had to wait long. Like a lot of European hotels there were no insulated ice buckets or ice machine, but a call to restaurant/front desk quickly resulted in plenty of ice ( in a silver plated bucket which maid did not seem to know what to do with the next day!). Also like most European hotels, no coffee brewer in room- just a “boiler” and instant coffee. My wife loved the room décor, and all of the colorful decorative pillows on king sized bed, but “sleeping” pillows were smallish & felt like they were stuffed with paper( my only real complaint).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria; City: Alexandria Virginia; Review: This used to be my home away from home in previous times; excellent friendly, helpful staff; great beds. great shuttle service; all suite hotel with 2 flat panel TVs in all rooms, concierge lounge with breakfast, we did not try restaurant this time, but it has been very good at times; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Richmond; City: Richmond Virginia; Review: This is a newish hotel and was, in my experience ( with the exception of one in Paris) a predictably excellent Westin stay; this one had added benefit of a concierge lounge with a very good continental plus breakfast; staff, amenities, bed all were predictably great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel; City: Flushing Queens New York; Review: This hotel is located only 3 miles from LaGuardia and has free, frequent shuttle service to and from the airport. It is reportedly a 35 minute ride to via nearby subway to Times Square(we did not try this, but it sounds appealing). It is in the middle of what seems to be a China -town area. Its public spaces and club lounge are gorgeously decorated in a Chinese ( or least Asian ) motif. The club lounge had no place to eat easily ( mostly low soft chairs and low tables). Our room was large with a great set of beds and all the usual Sheraton amenities, but very plainly decorated ( my wife said it had one picture on the wall, but I missed it). Staff was uniformly great! The restaurant featured both Western & Chinese food. We tried Chinese & loved it! My only real complaint was that it seems very pricey....we had choice of paying either about $360 for the room ( which was not on club floor)or using Starwood points plus cash (we chose the latter, which was a good value). A rough check of Website suggests that the rates range from about $219 (non-refundable advance purchase) to about $360/night. I do not consider it a good value at those rates. They seem to be Starwood Elite friendly ( we got one of the last rooms available that night so I could not fairly judge their upgrade capability, but they did give us access to the club floor lounge, including evening snacks( mediocre) and basic continental breakfast (average at best) and more than minimal bonus points to me( I am Platinum)). The free computers in the lobby made the very slow computers at the Sheraton Tribeca (where we had stayed earlier in the trip)seem rocket fast by comparison. The computer in the club lounge was broken & I had the impression it was not used much anyway. All in all it was a great place to stay for one night when your plane gets delayed/cancelled ( as was our case), but probably lacks what is needed to be a good long stay or business hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Madison Hotel; City: Madison Wisconsin; Review: We enjoyed "Art Fair Weekend" at the Sheraton Madison... We found all the staff very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful....the shuttle van was a great convenience to get us to & from Fair without having to worry about parking...it was always quickly available when needed....room seemed recently remodeled & was very comfortable ...Starwood always seems to have the best beds....also there were plenty of flat surfaces for all of my wife's stuff (not usually the case elsewhere)...we look forward to staying here our next visit to Madison. 5 star for Madison, but probably a 3.5 - 4 star in a major city.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarion Collection Hotel Arlington Court Suites; City: Arlington Virginia; Review: This hotel was booked by a client and I really did not know what to expect. From the outside it looks somewhat dated, but OK. The neighborhood seems to be a transition from government buildings & an expressway to a downtown area. The lobby was OK but nothing special. My room however was a huge suite with kitchenette, large dining room/conference table and 2 (old fashioned CRT) TVs. The décor was good, but not particularly distinguished. The door locks were modern chip types that you just waved key card at lock…no undependable magnetic strips! The staff was all great. A hot buffet breakfast was included with room , and surprisingly so was a “light dinner buffet” for the days we were there ( not always available as I understand, so check ahead). No other restaurant facilities were on-site however. Parking was only $15/day indoors (very small facility) or outdoors. Metro is about 3 (mostly uphill block away. Shuttle is provide free to Metro & other places with 1 mile.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Oceanfront; City: Ocean City Maryland; Review: Beware that most “Atrium” rooms are up one or two flights of stairs. There is no access to any elevator for these rooms. Also this hotel will not help anyone carry bags (no bell staff & not something front desk staff offers to do). More expensive “Ocean View” rooms are all accessible by elevator. Ocean View rooms cover 5 floors and served by a single very slow (& usually dirty- but that is probably more a reflection of cliental & sandy beach than hotel) elevator. Hotel rooms are very old fashioned but do include range, microwave, refrigerator and automatic dishwater. TV was an ancient CRT type with poor reception of most channels and no reception of channels like FOX news. Front desk just blamed Cable Company and was of no help. Mold on ceiling activated my wife’s allergies. Water pressure was very good & there always was plenty of hot water. Room was very quiet, even though hotel was full of a lot of families. Free coffee was available around the clock. The Wi-Fi was free & fine. There was no desk, but there was a tiny kitchen table that made do. The Ocean view was fine. The hotel is 100% non-smoking and does not allow pets…. 2 positives for me but negatives for some. Parking was abundant, convenient and free.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Congress Plaza Hotel and Convention Center; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: We were very disappointed. This once was a great hotel, but is so no longer, based upon our experience. We stayed here primarily because of location and the fact that most of the other near-by hotels had no rooms available that day . Location is great, but check-in was a problem. Entrance to hotel often was partially blocked by strikers (an 8 year old situation the strikers claimed). After a 10 minute wait in check-in line (only one clerk available, not many people in line), the front desk clerk was unable to find our reservation in her system…even though I showed her an e-mail with reservation number and date on it. After about another 30 minutes (and a trip to the manager’s office) she “found” our reservation. Apparently the reservation system and the front desk computers do not always communicate well. She admitted that this happens occasionally, but is not the norm- an old computer system was blamed. She was very nice though (as were most of the staff) and gave us a (presumably upgraded) room with a view of Grant Park ( which was a great view!). The room was large with a very high ceiling, tastefully decorated and looked clean and well-maintained. There was a wall mounted flat panel TV that seemed a bit too small (32”?) for this large of a room. There was no desk, but there was a small table that could make do….if one did not mind running internet cable from TV and unplugging coffee maker to plug in computer. The room looked to be recently remodeled, but had not quite been completed , leaving an ancient banged up air conditioning cabinet ( covering a window unit that had a fan control, but no obvious thermostat) and at least one part of trim painted a different color. There was a large walk-in closet with surprisingly little space to hang anything. There were no collapsible luggage racks – just a permanent one built into closet & reducing usable hanger space. The beds were OK, but nowhere near as comfortable those found in Starwood hotels as well as in most Hiltons and Marriotts. There was plenty of hot water and great water pressure. Amenities (soap, shampoo) were minimal and brand-less. There was very little flat space to put anything in the bathroom. It took 20 minutes to get car mid-day even though no one else seemed to be using valet service at the time. I would not recommend staying here unless you can tolerate strike lines, erratic check in and slow car-valet service…. and you could get room for less than about $100/night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort; City: Anaheim California; Review: We have stayed at this hotel several times and it is definitely our favorite when visiting Disney. We always get a room facing the park & enjoy watching Disney fireworks from our room or attached balcony. Beds are great, staff is great and the club lounge is one the best we have been in US…and lounge staff definitely is this best. Lounge served a good continental breakfast and evening hot and cold appetizers…and free alcoholic beverages until 7 PM. The walk to Disney was more like 20 minutes (not the advertised 10 minutes)to the turnstiles and next time we probably will consider buying shuttle pass for $4.00/day /person ( shuttle runs every 20 minutes).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Madison Monona Terrace; City: Madison Wisconsin; Review: We stay here fairly often and maybe it's just that we are too familiar with the place, but this trip was just OK: convenient to conference center and downtown and comfortable, but not as comfortable as Starwood’s. Room was smaller than they usually gave us and shower was old and difficult to work with. Elevators were slower than I remembered and annoyingly we always seem to get one of the two (out of 4) that did not connect with parking garage. They did give us plenty of extra towels and pillows without us having to call down...something that often does not happen often elsewhere…; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Grand Berlin; City: Berlin; Review: This was our second visit to this hotel. The first was at Christmas time about 4 years ago. Much of the hotel was closed for remodeling the first time and they did not seem very Starwood Elite aware or friendly that visit. That all has changed. They gave us great Platinum privileges, including upgrading us to “junior suite” which consisted of a large bedroom w/king sized (very comfortable) bed, in a sound proofed room with a door, a large living room with its own flat screen TV and desk and a single large bathroom with lots of flat counter space and the best showers my (very picky) wife has seen! The room was wonderfully and easily air-conditioned during our (unseasonably hot- often in mid-80sF). Windows were easily opened in a variety of ways to allow fresh air in at night. Even though our room faced a noisy, busy street (Unter die Linden) the room was quite well soundproofed when the windows were closed. As a Platinum privilege, they also gave us each a table-served-Continental breakfast (coffee, great orange juice, two great rolls and an croissant roll each). We usually upgraded to a wonderful full hot buffet (the best selection of the best bakery I’ve ever seen in a buffet, plus hot & cold meats, cheese, made to order eggs (including omelets), fruit etc. and champagne! For about another14 euros each (it was a pricy 32 euros each otherwise). Staff (including maids- we had most prompt maid service I ever remember having!) was extremely friendly and well trained throughout. The decor of our room was a bit too modern for my wife’s taste initially, but eventually we both loved everything about the hotel - including proximity to everything and public transportation (see attached picture of hotel entrance from taken from U-bahn entrance)!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton London Paddington; City: London England; Review: We have stayed here many times and it seems to get better each time. Of course there is always the convenience of Heathrow Express (every 15 minutes, 15 minute trip to Heathrow-without having to go outside since station is attached to hotel) though it has gotten a bit more pricy (£19- about $32 per person) but still a lot cheaper than a taxi (about £55 – or $92 per car) and the convenience of the underground and other trains in the same building as hotel. The hotel is towards the end of what seems to be a significant rehab. We had what we considered the nicest room we ever had here, even though it probably was the smallest room we ever had here (but still large and comfortable). The king sized bed & bed linens were great and very comfortable. The shower power was fine and my very fussy wife loved the hand held option. Internet and a large breakfast buffet at their main restaurant were included for Gold level Hilton Honors guests like us. Elevators were so quiet and smooth that the only way to know that you were moving was to look at floor indicator – they were fast and we never had to wait long too. The hotel HVAC seemed to be in the “teething” stage, and the in-room thermostat did not seem to work, and the windows were sealed, except for an inner windows which seemed more designed for sounding proofing (which they did very well, effectively muffling sound of construction below even at 11 PM!). However a call to the customer service line resulted in the temperature being set exactly where we asked (by some chap at computer I was told). The room darkening drapes were the most effective that we have ever seen! Staff was all very attentive and even all the maids spoke and understood English.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Skyline Hotel London Heathrow; City: Hayes Greater London England; Review: This was our first visit to this hotel. My platinum elite status got us an upgraded room, free Internet and access to the lounge. Breakfast in the lounge was quite good for a lounge breakfast (one of the better Sheraton lounge breakfasts, including eggs & breakfast meats). Bed, linen and shower all were fine. Proximity to airport was good, and the Heathrow-Hoppa shuttle service (@ £4 ($6.40)/person each way) was fast, frequent and reliable. It was perfect for our needs and we would stay there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel; City: New York City New York; Review: The recent remodeling was fabulous! The lobby looked great, the rooms looked great (although ours was small…particularly considering it was an “upgrade”). Elevators to upper floors were fastest I have ever seen (or heard…they whoosh!) In spite of this, I have to give this hotel the lowest rating that I ever have given to a Starwood hotel. Unfortunately the soundproofing was the worst I have ever encountered at a Starwood hotel: people in the hall, talking normally, sounded like they were in the room…at midnight it sounded like people were moving furniture & and dancing in room above ours. At check–in, Elite line was longer than “normal” line and had fewer agents when I tried to check-in early (about 10:30 AM) and far worse at 3 PM (when I came back because room was not ready)…. actually the worst I have seen at any Starwood ever (over 12 years). There were positions available for staff, but apparently no staff to fill them. The desk clerk & bellman were pleasant, but full of misinformation (e.g.: both said I had access to concierge lounge… I did not, & when I called front desk to correct this, I was told that I did not have access and they would not give me this even though: • I have been Platinum for the last 7 years, • Have stayed over 500 nights at Starwoods, • Every other Starwood I have stayed at this year (including one the day before this) has given me these privileges without me asking • Other staff told me (without me asking) that I had his privilege… Since this would have cost them very little or nothing, I feel that this was a very poor way for her to handle this situation. Also on check-out day, we told maid in hall outside our room that we were using 4 PM check-out (approved already) but just a few minutes later a maid (possibly a different one) was pounding on our door, demanding to know when we were leaving even though we had a “do not disturb sign” on door and it was only about 3PM. This should be a definite “no-no” at a hotel with well-trained staff.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Westin New York Grand Central; City: New York City New York; Review: This is essentially a brand new hotel in an old building. Everything looks new and modern. Typical great Westin bedding, baths etc. Windows in rooms can be opened (a great thing!). Staff is great…eventually; hotel still is start-up mode and it can take a few tries to get basics attended to. It has a very small lobby that can be very congested at about 8 AM. No newspapers on weekends (a very poor practice, but supposedly a Westin standard). It offers very limited Platinum benefits (no concierge floor/lounge, limited high end rooms, etc.). It has an unusual Continental Breakfast option: separate (but adjacent) area from main/buffet restaurant with only counter service; excellent high quality bakery choices, a fruit cup or yogurt parfait option, coffee, bottled juice (very inferior and only lacking part of this breakfast) all designed to be carried back to room or eaten in a special area (not main restaurant). Regular hot buffet was very expensive (about $30), had no sausage, ham, omelets, pancakes, and waffles, French toast etc. and had only different, inferior bakery goods…but since kitchen was being remodeled days we were there, we could not fairly judge.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel; City: New Orleans Louisiana; Review: This hotel recently completed a major remodeling -they did a fantastic job! Everything- the lobby, the elite lounge, and the room were all fantastic! We particularly loved the room: an upgrade to an executive king mini suite which was a large ,well decorated room with a partial wall ( with large screen TVs on each side) separating bedroom and living room and a wet bar. This definitely is our favorite New Orleans hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: This hotel had some minor flaws that tempted me to lower rating to 4 stars. However these seemed to be mostly because it was fully booked most of the days we were there and accordingly somewhat stressed; they also may be of little consequence to most travelers (Diamond upgrade was minimal, no concierge lounge etc.) so I chose to give 5 stars based upon the great location, the great staff and very comfortable bed. We arrived at about 9 AM and they were able to get us a nice room in about 40 minutes. Maybe we would have had a better room if we waited. Communicating before arrival, other than by phone (not practical from US), was difficult with even the Hilton international guest services staff not being able to get them to respond by e-mail. However, on a social media site, I eventually tripped over an e-mail that worked & finally did get in touch; they were very responsive then. I’ve let them know about this & they promised to put an e-mail address in an easy to find spot on their website. Please check this and, if it is not there, deduct some stars from this review. The buffet breakfast was quite good, but fell short (nothing special like pancakes, waffles, chocolate croissants etc.) of the breakfast buffets we had at two other English hotels that same trip and way short of breakfast buffets we have had a French & German Starwood hotels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aloft Green Bay; City: Green Bay Wisconsin; Review: August 18, 2014 This hotel is usually a good value - except when Packers are in town and maybe a couple of other weekends. Like all Alofts the Platinum benefits are almost nonexistent. Staff is very friendly and beds are quite comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aloft Chicago Downtown River North; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: I like Aloft Hotels – including this one. I do not expect much - except value. This one provided all of the expected basics and a great location,however I did not get value at this hotel. I paid more at this Aloft (over $300/night with taxes, fees & parking) than I have ever paid at any other Chicago hotel, including top of line 5 star hotels. Clearly the price of a room is more dependent upon supply/demand than providing value at this particular Aloft... so beware and compare prices before booking. I also do not expect them to offer much for Starwood Platinums and this Aloft was no exception…even though they have some nicer corner rooms, they could/would not give me one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Traghetto; City: Civitavecchia Province of Rome Lazio; Review: This is our favorite hotel to use when we are taking a cruise from Rome/Civitavecchia. If I were to rate it as a big city or resort hotel, I probably would give it only 2.5-3 stars- it is a good, basic hotel with a basic cold breakfast buffet- nothing particularly fancy or up-scale. Our room has always been a clean, large, comfortable top floor room with a large balcony and a nice view of the port. However considering that it is in a lesser town, its convenient location (a few hundred meters from cruise port shuttles), the large bathroom with a great shower (no tub) and the extremely high level of service from Giuseppe (particularly Giuseppe – without him this would be a 3 star hotel), all incline me to give this hotel five stars. Giuseppe has always been extremely helpful with arranging reasonably priced, high quality private transportation to and from Rome, recommending local restaurants, finding places to buy inexpensive bottled water (<0.20 € for 1.5 L vs. about 5€ for same on ship) and snacks etc. He even gave us the same great room we had our first visit at a lower rate (hint: book directly with Giuseppe and you will get a better rate & room than using a booking service) and it was ready (even though he could not guarantee it) when we got there at about 10:30 AM. When I forgot something when leaving the room, he made sure the taxi meeting us at the ship had it for us when we returned from the cruise-without us asking (or even mentioning it). Giuseppe’s English is great (something we found uncommon elsewhere in Italy) and he treats you more like old friends, not just some tourists. We highly recommend this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rome Cavalieri A Waldorf Astoria Resort; City: Rome Lazio; Review: We have been to many top tier hotels before but this is the first one we literally said, “wow” both upon entering lobby and when entering our room. While the exterior was deceivingly plain, the interior looked like a set from a 1930’s movie. I am Diamond level with Hilton so we were upgraded to a “vista” suite. This was a large beautifully furnished and decorated one room suite with an area with some stuffed chairs and a massage chair. The bed was huge and comfortable with controls on either side of backboard that opened & closed the rolling shutters the bed faced at the other end of the room. Behind these shutters were a large balcony and a view of the Vatican area of Rome (another "wow"). There was one large screen HD TV in the main room plus a small TV in the single bathroom. The marble bathroom was large with a separate shower (with hand held shower) and bathtub area. We literally liked the room so much that it was hard to leave it to see the wonders of Rome. We did, however, go to the city center of Rome each morning, taking advantage of the excellent luxury free shuttle service provide by the hotel (about a 20 minute ride). My only complaints about this service were that the shuttle was fairly small and you had to be sure to be early to get a seat…also on two of the days we wished it returned during mid-day (no service 1-4 PM), but the taxi from the Vatican part of Rome was reasonable (about 11 euros) on the one day we decide not to wait. The drivers were very accommodating and often left guests off at locations other than the assigned drop-off/pickup location. The hotel also was a bit of an art museum with so many paintings and other works of art that they offered a recorded tour (which my wife, who works at a major US art museum loved). We were on an executive (Imperial) floor and had access to the executive (Imperial Club) lounge. This access came at an extra cost- it was not a perk of diamond status as would have been offered in most other Hiltons and other hotel chains. While paying extra initially annoyed me, we came to appreciate that this kept the lounge from being too crowded and overrun with kids. The lounge was one of the best we have ever seen, being large, having great views of Rome from heated balconies and a better than average light buffet at breakfast, lunch & in the evening that included free sparkling and still wines. We did not get a chance to try any of the well-regarded in-house restaurants. Staffs were always easily available, very helpful and very attractive. The room upgrade (which probably would have been the same for a Gold Hilton Honors member) was the only significant “free” perk of which we were aware that did not already come with the purchased Imperial lounge upgrade. I do not see this as a fault of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Madison Monona Terrace; City: Madison Wisconsin; Review: We have been going to this hotel pretty much once a year since it first opened. It is a comfortable hotel, attached to the convention center and close to downtown Madison (but not the University). It usually is the most expensive choice in the area. I have been at pretty much every level of Hilton Honors when I visited, including Platinum. I found that they treated Gold Levels better (including upgrades to a large room with a great view) than lower levels, but did not treat Platinums any better than Golds (pretty much a weakness in common with almost all Hilton program hotels I have visited). Every visit was marked by several, mostly minor, flaws (problems) but the staff has always been great in compensating for these flaws, so we keep coming back. Many of these flaws probably would not be noticed by, or bother less experienced travelers, and/or were stay specific, so I will not go into them (contact me if you are interested). One common flaw, which surprisingly has gone uncorrected from the beginning, is the lack of electric outlets on or near desk. There are just two (in every room I was told) and one of these is taken up by a coffee maker. In summary, if you are a picky, budget conscious traveler and location is not important, this probably is not the right hotel for you, but otherwise, after help from staff, you will probably enjoy it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Richmond North Glen Allen; City: Glen Allen Virginia; Review: This is as nice lower mid level type hotel with a nice concept. Upper level Marriott elites get a bottle of water, but not much else that was noticeable. While the rooms are not suites in the traditional sense, they are nice sized, with several isolated area for sleeping, bath, desk, couch etc. There is just one TV and one bathroom. I was quite happy with the room and would have given it at least 4 stars until I used the shower in the morning. The water took about a minute to get to a bearable lukewarm and eventually got to warm, but never as hot as I am used to (and as hot virtually every other hotel I have stayed at in the last 20 years). Breakfast was disappointing for a place that prides itself in a good hot breakfast (re: manager responses on Trip Advisor). Only hot items were OK scrambled eggs and sausage patties. I understand that they also have waffles on weekends but not on weekdays (big mistake!). There was a limited, but nice assortment of cheese and ham slices and a good variety of yogurt. The orange juice was from a machine and watery. The only fruit I saw was pineapple chunks and some strawberries with hull still on. Bakery items seemed minimal, but OK. There appeared to be a decent assortment of cold cereal & packets of oatmeal. I think management is aware of most these problems and there was an upper management person there who took my comments as well as comments from others; he gave me some Marriott points.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Times Square; City: New York City New York; Review: We have stayed at this hotel several times. It has good quality rooms and is convenient to the theater district and to the conference, which I normally am attending when I stay there. My complaint is that during the last remodeling, they forgot to provide for cold days. The lobby was frigid most of the days that we were there and the staff all had to wear outdoor coats! The problem was the front doors, which had no vestibule or other way of protecting the lobby from the cold. This only affected the lobby area and only when it was below freezing outside...the rest of the hotel seemed fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Park Hyatt Chicago; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: This is a top-notch hotel with top-notch staff and location. For Gold level elites, however, there does not seem to be much extra: no elite lounge, no complimentary breakfast (or discount), no newspaper (it was Saturday/Sunday), no anything extra (except, maybe, 2 small bottles of water an 1 PM check-out). It allows pets, which is OK if they warned us that some are on our floor, since we are allergic to some. One was, but we were not warned- fortunately the worst it did was wake us up barking in the middle of the night. The room had a lousy view, but great automatic window shade/curtains that made room pitch black (except for the too bright glare from the two sets of bedside controllers. The door from the toilet was blocked from opening by pushing and had to be opened by pulling on two small knobs-strange & unsanitary. The ultra-modern radio cube was impossible to figure out and had to be unplugged. I’d recommend having a bellman come up with you just to show you how to use this and the other gadgets (including strange the light switches that seem to be appearing in up-scale Chicago hotels) – even if you do not have bags for them to carry.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dunes Manor Hotel Court Suites; City: Ocean City Maryland; Review: We have been going to Ocean City once a year for over ten years; this is the first time we have stayed at this hotel. It easily is the best hotel that we have stayed at in Ocean City. We loved the ocean view balcony (all rooms have one) the comfortable beds, the lighting, the air conditioning and the shower. It appears to be a recently remodeled, but old-fashioned, type place, with the air conditioner in a unit below a window. There are no guest laundry facilities on–site, but there is a nice laundromat about a block away. We did not try any of the restaurants. We did not have (or need) much interaction with the staff except at check in and check out (the latter was only available the old fashioned way- in person only, no express checkout). At check-in, the desk clerks (Tom & Nicky) were especially helpful, helping us correct the errors our booking service (Booking.com) made. It seems the booking service provided the wrong codes and had us at the nearby Dunes Motel (also owned/managed by same organization as the Dunes Manor hotel), which is not nearly so nice a place. Fortunately we had a printout, which clearly showed we had booked the hotel and, with Tom & Nicky’s help, we got the last room at the price promised by Booking.com. I strongly suggest calling the hotel directly to confirm your reservation whenever dealing with Booking.com.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Utopia Bedding Printed Duvet Set - King Grey (King, Grey); Brand: Utopia Bedding; Review: Very good quality , heavy and soft.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Mug Go, Lilac; Brand: Mighty Mug; Review: The 1st cup we ordered and both the replacement have both leaked within a week of purchasing or receiving. Leaks around lid area when taking a drink.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rod Desyne Magnetic Curtain Rod, 17-30", White; Brand: Rod Desyne; Review: Finally a magnetic rod that holds ! I have a heavy blackout curtain hanging on a high traffic door holding strong a month later. Not one slip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Golden Chef Collection 8 Piece Stainless Steel Non Stick Blades Kitchen Knife Set with Ceramic Peeler Gift Box; Brand: Golden Chef Collection; Review: These knives are wicked sharp ! I'm am super impressed. I always have to use a serrated knife to cut big potions of meat , but this carving knife slices through a roast like butter. Be careful and don't underestimate them !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power One Batteries P13; Brand: ; Review: My son worn hearing aids for 13 years and I wish I had found these sooner ! Works as long as name brands and the price is insanely low if you buy a lot of these. Will be ordering these from now on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power One Batteries P13; Brand: ; Review: My son worn hearing aids for 13 years and I wish I had found these sooner ! Works as long as name brands and the price is insanely low if you buy a lot of these. Will be ordering these from now on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beamer 12oz Cannabis Killer Scented Candle Co. Ultra Premium Jar Candle. 90 Hr Burn Time. USA Made; Brand: Beamer; Review: Works perfectly to mask smoke odors and smells so good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Dom's Shoe Repair; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: $47 to resole a single pair of shoes. Regardless of how they turn out, I think that's quite a lot of money.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Crisp; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I got the Authentic Falafel on wheat. It's okay, but I've had better. If you are a falafel aficionado, you will immediately realize that this does not compare to Mama's. They do offer different variations on falafel which might be good to try. Gold goes to Mama's, silver goes to Maoz and the lowly bronze goes to Crisp.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: La Creperie Cafe; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Ventured in here because of a Groupon deal. We ordered sweet crepes and what arrived were crunchy crepes with sparse filling. Because the crepes were so crunchy, it was difficult to cut through them. After attempting to saw through these things with the table wobbling like crazy, I ended up spilling half of my coffee. The table also had nails sticking up out of it on my fiance's side and she jabbed her elbow on them. Get some real tables! Service was okay, but the crepes aren't very good, the table was wobbly and dangerous and it was too warm inside the cafe. We won't be going back.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shady Katie's; City: Somerdale, NJ; Review: Went to this dump to see my brother's band play. My 62 year old mother, my younger brother and myself were forcefully ejected from Shady Katie's because my brother refused to remove his wool hat. Yes, they shoved my 62 year old mother out the door. Yes, they also shoved me multiple times when I attempted to discuss the situation and come to a resolution. Obviously we are never going back and I can't imagine this place not being out of business in the near future. Most people in the cover band/bar scene around New Jersey and Philly are aware that this is common behavior at Shady Katie's.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ajax Auto Glass; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Cannot beat their prices. Get there early and you'll be out in a couple of hours.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bubba's Texas BBQ; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Had the pulled pork sandwich. The meat was delicious and the slaw was very good. The roll was okay. The homemade chips were very tasty, but for twelve bucks couldn't you throw in fries with the sandwich? Beers seemed a bit expensive but $3 Yeungling is fine by me. I was in a big rush to get somewhere and the waitress assured me the food would be out quickly and it was. I would definitely go back to try more of the menu.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Smokin Bettys; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Betty Burger is unreal. Pork belly, a huge beef patty, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato and avocado... Had to eat with a fork and knife because it was so huge. Delicious. Fries were great as well. There was an issue with our reservation being for 4 instead of 5 but they quickly and without any fuss made a table for 5 for us. Definitely will be back for another colossal burger.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Supper; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Burger was tasty but a bit too much meat (dare I say) causing it to be sort of dry. Definitely liked the different dipping sauces for the burger but the fries could have stayed in the fryer a tad longer. Our waitress, Katie, was an absolute pleasure though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tortilla Press Cantina; City: Merchantville, NJ; Review: The exterior of the building is not very enticing and the interior didn't look great either. Made reservations for a party of 11. We were seated at a table for 8 with a chair on the end (that makes 9). Had to ask for water a couple of times until we got it. Waitress seemed terribly overwhelmed. Ordered chicken fajitas - chicken was very dry despite being in some kind of BBQ sauce. Won't be going back.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: John Kennedy Mazda; City: Conshohocken, PA; Review: We bought a 2013 Mazda 3 hatchback here and had no issues with the salesperson or finance person. However, we purchased the Kennedy care package only to find out later that all services offered in that package are done at another third party location by another company. We also found out that things we were told were covered (scratches on our bumper) are not covered. The manager David Mancinelli expressed his sympathy that we felt duped and offered a free tube of touch up paint which he would mail to us. This never happened. I emailed him with no response. I received a congratulatory 1 year anniversary email regarding the car from someone named Tony Saxon. I told Tony about the touch up paint situation and he said he would get in touch with David and make sure the paint was sent to us. Two months have gone by with two subsequent emails to him and no reply. We will not be purchasing any more vehicles from John Kennedy Mazda. The car itself is great though.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: John Kennedy Mazda; City: Conshohocken, PA; Review: We bought a 2013 Mazda 3 hatchback here and had no issues with the salesperson or finance person. However, we purchased the Kennedy care package only to find out later that all services offered in that package are done at another third party location by another company. We also found out that things we were told were covered (scratches on our bumper) are not covered. The manager David Mancinelli expressed his sympathy that we felt duped and offered a free tube of touch up paint which he would mail to us. This never happened. I emailed him with no response. I received a congratulatory 1 year anniversary email regarding the car from someone named Tony Saxon. I told Tony about the touch up paint situation and he said he would get in touch with David and make sure the paint was sent to us. Two months have gone by with two subsequent emails to him and no reply. We will not be purchasing any more vehicles from John Kennedy Mazda. The car itself is great though. Update 1/2/2015: The manager called and left me a voicemail after seeing this review I assume. He apologized and assured me that it was an oversight and the paint would be shipped to me immediately. I also received a call from Tony Saxon and he also assured me that the paint was sent and I should be receiving it. Over two weeks later, still no paint. I emailed back to let them know and Tony suggested I just come pick up the paint. I verified my mailing address with him again and let him know that a trip to Conshohocken is rather inconvenient (about an hour each way). No response to that email. Update 1/30/2015: Still nothing back from the manager David Mancinelli or Tony Saxon. Terrible customer service. Go elsewhere.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cocina Azteca; City: Mount Laurel, NJ; Review: Put our name on list with no indication of approx wait time. Waited 40 minutes for table then sat for 30 minutes waiting for a server to take our order. Got up and left.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pronto Pizza & Grill; City: Merchantville, NJ; Review: Didn't love it. Cheese on half the pie wasn't cooked enough and the ham (pie was half Hawaiian) was in big chunks which I was not into.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sakura; City: Merchantville, NJ; Review: Great sushi and really nice and friendly service. Always greeted with a big smile when I walk in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: German Society of Pennsylvania; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Rented venue for wedding. Staff was not very helpful with recommendations for catering, etc. so expect to do that all on your own. We found out the week of the wedding (Labor Day) that there was no air conditioning in the room. Needless to say, conditions were pretty uncomfortable on a 90+ degree day in September. Also, when we arrived to look at the room a few days before, there were no stairs at the entrance and the entire front of the building was under construction. This was quite a surprise. Temporary stairs were put up and we were allowed use of the library as an apology. However, after the wedding I had to deal with losing half of the security deposit due to running over our scheduled rental time while caterers cleaned. This led to a back and forth between caterer and venue about lack of cleaning supplies, etc. which was incredibly unpleasant. Also, the 'chaperone' who was on site during the wedding was chatting with guests and made some off-color remarks. He also would not allow us to leave leftover food in refrigerators overnight (despite clearing this with the venue beforehand) so we lost a lot of leftovers. Terrible experience despite a beautiful room. Would definitely not rent again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kabob House; City: Merchantville, NJ; Review: Very friendly service, good food, large portions and good prices. Hope they stick around!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cedars Restaurant; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Really good food, very friendly and helpful staff, quiet atmosphere. We loved it. We had a coupon and were told we had to pay cash because of that which was sort of weird but other than that, had an excellent meal. Try the cheese kanafeh for dessert!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Revolution Taco; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Went in at 12:15 on a Wednesday for lunch. Was busy but not overwhelming. Had the BBQ brisket tacos - went with 2 instead of 3 and glad I did. They were delicious and packed with meat, double wrapped in tortillas. Was full after 2 and a 3rd would have been way too much for me. Really enjoyed them and will be back to try more. You can't mix and match tacos which is a bit of a bummer but makes sense when you think about the kind of volume they're doing during lunch hour.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Serpico; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Overpriced. The wait staff was great and we enjoyed the cocktails. We really liked some of the dishes we had (eggplant was really great) but others were just OK (skip the trout). Overall we just felt like the price was unwarranted.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aroma Indian Bistro; City: Merchantville, NJ; Review: Had chicken tikka masala takeout. Delicious. Want to try something new next time but will be going back very soon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fred Beans Volkswagen of Doylestown; City: Doylestown, PA; Review: Drove an hour out to Doylestown because the color and trim I wanted was hard to find and they had it. Part of the deal was a check for my 3 remaining prior lease payments. I pick up the car (it was night and it's a black car) and find the next morning there are two dings on the side. I also discovered there's no GPS chip. I take the car back in to get them fixed and have to drive a loaner for a few days. I go back to pick up my car and ask about the GPS chip. They will order it. I ask about my check for Mazda payments - "it's in the mail". A month goes by and I start calling for my check and my GPS chip. They discover GPS chip has arrived and they'll send it out. Check is "in the mail". I follow up a few more times and check finally arrives. Now where are my license plates? I call in and am told they have 60 days to get them out to me. Well we're at day 40 something and I'm getting anxious. Plates arrive and when I go to put them on, there's no mount for front plate (NJ). So now I will have to head back to dealer to get front plate mount attached. Just the clunkiest experience and I had to follow up a ton on everything. Would not go here again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hanes Women's Cotton Bikini Panty Multipack; Brand: ; Review: Bought for a donation, but have purchased these before.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Men's GEL-180 TR Cross-Training Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Very comfortable!! Will never buy Nike again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chaco Women's ZX2 Yampa W Sandal; Brand: Chaco; Review: We knew we had to get a larger size because my older child had a pair. Very comfy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GT-1000 3 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Great show... hated the colors; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aerosoles A2 Women's Redwood; Brand: ; Review: Not very comfortable in the toes. Very disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Men's GEL-180 TR Cross-Training Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Very comfortable!! Will never buy Nike again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Refresh Ladies Wynne-06 Sweater Cuff Lace Up Combat Boot; Brand: Refresh; Review: Very wide in the foot. No way to fix that!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lath.pin® Unisex Costume Animal Cosplay Onesie Adult Pajamas Anime Cartoon Sleepwear (S, Giraffe); Brand: LATH.PIN; Review: Was a gift; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Port Authority Women's Comfortable Short Sleeve Twill Shirt; Brand: Port Authority; Review: A lot thicker material than expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The North Face Women's Osito 2 Jacket; Brand: The North Face; Review: Bought for daughters. Very warm!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 100% Premium Silk Handmade Mens Solid Black Self Tie Bow Tie | Formal - Wedding - Tuxedo; Brand: Knot & Tie Company; Review: Bought tie for my niece's black tie wedding that was this past weekend. All edges frayed after tying. Was embarrassed and I didn't have a backup.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mark Lemp by Walking Cradles Women's Leash Dress Sandal; Brand: Walking Cradles; Review: Description said shoe was comfortable, but I disagree. Loved the height of the shoe. Strap was almost not long enough, so could not tighten much. Pad under ball of foot had an edge that did not fit under well, but not too bothersome. Outer strap by baby toe rubbed horribly that I had to finally take them off when we got to the wedding reception.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Alex Evenings Women's Three-quarter sleeve rosette lace blouse; Brand: Alex Evenings; Review: Got a lot of complements. Lining is a bit warm, but fit well. Had ribbon removed since it sat high and did not look right. Very pretty without it!! Very comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alex Evenings Women's Three-quarter sleeve rosette lace blouse; Brand: Alex Evenings; Review: Got a lot of complements. Lining is a bit warm, but fit well. Had ribbon removed since it sat high and did not look right. Very pretty without it!! Very comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Keds Women's Champion Original Leather Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Not as comfortable and no arch support as the past styles have been. Cut a bit shorter.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Keds Women's Champion Original Leather Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Not as comfortable and no arch support as the past styles have been. Cut a bit shorter.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's 6 Pack Cotton Sporty Hipster, Assorted; Brand: ; Review: Fit kiddo great. Just wish it didn't have the funky design one in the package. She won't wear those.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Always enjoy Tolkien. In anticipation of the new movie, I have reread this and enjoyed it once again. A must read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Always enjoy Tolkien. In anticipation of the new movie, I have reread this and enjoyed it once again. A must read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy - (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the Ring, The Two; Author: Visit Amazon's J.R.R Tolkien Page; Review: Always enjoy Tolkien. In anticipation of the new movie, I have reread this and enjoyed it once again. A must read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Boxed Set of 4 Books; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Always enjoy Tolkien. In anticipation of the new movie, I have reread this and enjoyed it once again. A must read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings Part 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: Always enjoy Tolkien. In anticipation of the new movie, I have reread this and enjoyed it once again. A must read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goodnight Aggieland; Author: Mark & Cimbrey Brannan; Review: Love how the Aggie traditions are woven into a familiar storybook.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Giving It All Awayand Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously; Author: David Green; Review: Enjoyed learning about Mr. Green's journey to success and to hear his principles by which he lives and operates his company.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: iPhone 4 White Protective Bumper Phone Case; Brand: Generic; Review: This item is as describe, the side mute button doesn't align perfectly but totally worth the money. I recommend it, it also looks good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DigiYes Qi Standard Wireless Charger Module Receiver for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Support NFC; Brand: DigiYes; Review: I returned this because it does not what it says it will. Is cheap built and hard to install. I returned it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Spigen Magnetic Clip with Magnetic Holder for Samsung Galaxy S6/Note 4/S5/Note 3 - Magnetic Clip; Brand: Spigen; Review: This will keep your Note 3 cover closed avoiding to be open at all times. Easy instalation and great for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Poweradd; Review: Great deal. It super easy to installed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Battery Case - iPhone 6 Battery Case, Trianium Atomic S iPhone 6 6S Portable Charger Charging Case; Brand: Trianium; Review: I have being using this everyday for 5 months now. I highly recommend it. If you are a power user they will give your phone enough juice to last the entire day and more. I bought two for my own convenience since I go out for extended period of time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LG G4 Case, BUDDIBOX [Wave] Slim Rugged Durable Protective Case with Kickstand for LG G4, (Black); Brand: BUDDIBOX; Review: Stay away from it. The cover will drive you crazy if you want to take it off. It will always bring the phone's back cover with it, is that tight.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: OtterBox Commuter Case for LG G4 - Retail Packaging - Periwinkle Purple/Liberty Purple; Brand: OtterBox; Review: Fits well and is not too big so your phone can still fit inside your pocket. I found this color purple great looking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LG G4 Battery; Brand: MPJBATTERY; Review: This crater is a great option if you don't want to spend big dollars in a brand name. The LED indicator in the front will let you know the status of your battery. If it turned solid blue, your battery is completely charged.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LG G4 US991 Unlocked Smartphone with 32GB Internal; Brand: LG; Review: If the new LG G5 is way to expensive for you, the previous LG G4 still a great power machine. Bought it as a second unit for my work and I'm using it more than my personal one. The pictures are AMAZING. My only complaint is tat it uses power to fast to last you an entire day of normal use. It could be a defective battery but at this point I'm not sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Latico Leathers Heritage Cabin Duffel, Authentic Luxury Leather, Designer Fashion, For Travel Adjustable, Detachable Shoulder Strap W/ Shoulder Pad; Brand: Latico; Review: This duffle bag is perfect perfect perfect. The color is gorgeous and the quality is very good. I can't wait to use it as my carry on in my future trips. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bulova Women's 96P15 Diamond Watch; Brand: Bulova; Review: So much prettier in real life. The size is absulutely perfect for a small wrist. I Highly Recommend this product..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: G-SHOCK Men's The G-Aviation Atomic Timekeeping; Brand: Casio; Review: Got this as a surprise "for no real reason" present for my husband. He absolutely loved it!! It looks great on his wrist and has a real solid feel to it. The glass is crystal clear, the band is nice and thick, and the entire watch has a presence without feeling or looking too bulky. I'm happy with this purchase. Shipping was lightning fast!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: They are tighter than some other Dansko shoes, but since Amazon is so amazing at fixing things they sent me a replacement promptly. These shoes look great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wellrox Women's Terra-Austin Casual Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Super comfy. a bit pricey but worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WonderWink Women's Wonderflex Patience Scrub Top; Brand: WonderWink; Review: love wonder wink scrubs. Soft and comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WonderWink Women's Wonderflex Faith Scrub Pant; Brand: WonderWink; Review: Wonder Wink never fails. Great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WonderWink Women's WonderFLEX Grace Flare Leg Cargo Pant; Brand: WonderWink; Review: Wonder Wink never fails. Great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WonderWink Women's Wonderflex Faith Scrub Pant; Brand: WonderWink; Review: Wonder Wink never fails. Great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cherokee Women's Infinity Low-Rise Slim Pull-On Scrub Pant; Brand: ; Review: Gotta love Cherokee. These are awesome!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lucky Women's Marilynn; Brand: ; Review: They are one of my favorite but I don't feel comfortable wearing them on days that require more walking. They are a bit high for me, but still GREAT looking!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Next Level-Unisex Tri-Blend Three-Quarter Sleeve Raglan Tee-6051; Brand: Next Level; Review: Super comfy and looks great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 15" Clear Tote Bag with Black Lining | Heavy Duty PVC | Free Coin Pouch; Brand: K-Cliffs; Review: My favorite work bag. Sturdy and just the right size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: King Will Glory 2mm 4mm 6mm Rose Gold Plated High Polished Domed Tungsten Ring Wedding Band; Brand: King Will; Review: Pretty and simple. Love it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: COCOSHIP 50s Elegant Inspired Retro Vintage One Piece Pin Up Monokinis Swimsuit(FBA); Brand: COCOSHIP; Review: Gorgeous color. Wish the padding was removable as it is very much unnecessary!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sbicca Women's Manzanita Open Toe Platform Sandal; Brand: Sbicca; Review: Awesome with jeans, shorts, skirts, you name it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bali Women's Shapewear Shaping Brief Ultra Control 2-Pack; Brand: ; Review: Super comfortable. Can't tell you have them on. They have yet to roll down like some other briefs. I like these a lot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cherokee Women's Scrubs Flexibles Sporty V-Neck Knit Panel Top; Brand: ; Review: The best top on the market! I have it in all colors. So comfortable I feel like it makes my work day better :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pedi Couture Spa Women's Sandal; Brand: Pedi Couture; Review: Love these. Usually wear them around the house.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: prAna Women's Halle Pant; Brand: prAna; Review: Great pair of pants. I will be buying more! Gave 4 starts instead of 5 simply because they are a bit longer than "short inseam" pants should be in my opinion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HeartSoul Scrubs Women's Pitter-Pat Shaped V-Neck Top; Brand: HeartSoul; Review: The sleeves are a bit too tight to my liking making it not as comfortable and it could have been otherwise.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's Cozy Seamless Wire Free Bra; Brand: ; Review: The best Bra! So comfortable and supporting I could dance! :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oops Outlet Women's Printed Tube High Waist Wiggle Bodycon Pencil Midi Skirt; Brand: Oops Outlet; Review: So cool and unique looking. Always getting compliments when I'm wearing it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eliacher Women's Spaghetti Straps Long Cami Slip Cami Tank Tunic Bodycon Dress; Brand: Eliacher; Review: Very pretty and simple looking. Can't wait to wear it. It feels nice and soft on the skin and the fabric has just enough weight to make it flow nicely around you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Despicable Me 2 - One in a Minion T-Shirt Size XXL; Brand: Despicable Me; Review: Was given as a gift. It's one of his favorite shirts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern Fit Collection by Jockey Women's V-Neck Contrast Princess Scrub Top Galaxy Blue; Brand: Jockey Scrubs; Review: Beautiful top. Fabric is amazingly soft and comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Espresso Women's Shrug; Brand: Espresso; Review: It's a nice piece. I can see how this could be worn with many different things. I gave it only 4 starts because it looks a tad weird if you are a bit busty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 16g 2/3/4mm Cubic Zirconia Triple Forward Helix Ear Cartilage Tragus Studs Earrings Lip Piercing 16 gauge; Brand: Candyfancy; Review: 2 stars for sparkle. Although pretty, it took me longer to put those on than for them to fall off. They are too short screwed which makes them very easy to come off. Maybe they can fix that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reborn J Women's Cold Shoulder Cut Out High Low Tunic Top; Brand: Reborn J; Review: It was large, weirdly shaped and really really long. I want to return it, but already took the tag off.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Women's KEA Vent Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Love it! Great style and fit. Comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Whisper Wrap Slide Sandal; Brand: Merrell; Review: LOVE LOVE it! Very comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Month Womens 2mm Wave Prismatic Pattern Rose Gold Ring Engagement Wedding Lady Finger Thin Stainless Steel Band; Brand: Fashion Month; Review: Exactly what I wanted. Fits great. Nice and smooth and shiny. Simple and minimalistic. Great ring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MELANSAY Women's Beatiful Bow Tie Summer Beach Chiffon High Waist Maxi Skirt; Brand: Melansay; Review: Absolutely perfect! Wish they had more colors and sizes. I would buy it again without second thought.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VfEmage Womens Elegant Mesh Embroidered Patchwork Party Bodycon Casual Dress; Brand: VfEmage; Review: So pretty! Very flattering!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: CURT 114373 Class 1 Trailer Hitch with Old-Style Ball Mount, Pin and Clip; Brand: Curt Manufacturing; Review: I have an '06 Civic Hybrid and this fit perfectly just like the website said it would. I read the reviews and knew what I was getting in to. Nothing too difficult, and the instructions are pretty clear. I had to disconnect the muffler from its mount to get the arm around it, but that was in the instructions and reviews and it wasn't a big deal at all. I also bought a converter, now I can use the same bike rack with all of my vehicles and I am quite pleased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Auto Ventshade 194056 In-Channel Ventvisor Side Window Deflector, 4-Piece Set for 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab; Brand: Auto Ventshade; Review: Fit just how and where they said they would on my '14 Tacoma. It wasn't in the instructions but my 2 cents - 1)test fit so that you know where it will go 2) remove the shades after test fitting 3) start to remove the backing from the adhesive - but only a couple of inches 4) place the shade in place 5) pull the backing off of the adhesive 6) close the window for a while; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Auto Ventshade 25310 Bugflector II Dark Smoke Hood Shield for 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma; Brand: Auto Ventshade; Review: Fits just right. Seems sturdy, no vibrations or other concerns.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toyota Genuine Accessories PT278-35112 Bed Cleat; Brand: Toyota; Review: Same as OEM. That's what I wanted for my 2014 Tacoma.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 05-15 Toyota Tacoma LED Package Interior + Tag + Reverse Lights (9 pieces); Brand: Check it Auto; Review: Installed these lights today and they look nice, just like in the pictures.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hidden Hitch 87451 Class III/IV Receiver Trailer Hitch; Brand: Hidden Hitch; Review: Perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Greenstreet Coffee Co.; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I really hope this coffee shop thrives. The iced coffee is the best I've had in Philadelphia ... And this city has a lot of good coffee shops. It is quite small but offers beautiful views of Spruce St and 11th st from its window benches and seats. The menu is simple and the baristas are friendly and easygoing. You won't feel like you're in a frenetic Starbucks like environment here. Be sure to bring cash :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gadget Fix; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I had an issue with my iPhone 5S charging port which I tried to have Staples EasyTech fix for me, and they wound up making my phone develop a different issue (they fixed the charging port, and broke the speaker). On a busy Saturday afternoon, I came over to Gadget Fix to see about getting my speaker fixed. In well under an hour, I had a perfectly functional iPhone again. $60 cash out the door, which I think was a very fair price. I was impressed with a number of aspects of the business - one, how friendly the employees were. Two, how they worked well with varying surges of customers walking in and calling the business asking for pricing on screen repairs. Gadget Fix will be my go-to place from now on for technology issues. Tips: Know what you want - that is - be able to clearly and succinctly describe the problem you're having with your device - ideally in one or two sentences. They'll appreciate it when you're able to say "This is my iPhone 6 plus, and I need the screen replaced" rather than mumbling ambiguously about what's wrong. Bring cash :) The Whole Foods down the street will let you get up to $100 cash back with a purchase, and there are plenty of banks nearby within walking distance - Bank of America, PNC, etc. Finally - consider stopping by even if your phone works fine. They sell charging cables! I saw a customer come in and buy one for $10 - though the price may vary depending on which type of wire you need for your device.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jay West; City: Haddonfield, NJ; Review: The store has a no photography sign posted near the front door. The store is free to have this restriction, but I would encourage customers not to visit this store, or any store for that matter that has a no photography policy. Banning pictures to me suggests that store doesn't want customers who enjoy comparison shopping or getting feedback from friends or family regarding a potential purcahse. The physical appearance of the store is very attractive and I have no doubt that many customers will visit the store and never be bothered by the policy and find a dress they ultimately buy. However, I would never patronize a business that is so openly apprehensive about people taking pictures in their store.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cook Book Stall; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Visited the Reading Terminal Market today and was pleased with the wide selection of cookbooks on display here. I thought it would be a nice place to get a birthday gift for my mother. Unfortunately, I did notice an unusually large number of hand-written signs asking people to avoid using their cell phones to take pictures. I can understand a store having a no photography policy or even having one sign prohibiting photography, but having at least 20 signs scattered across all of the tables and walls in a tiny storefront seemed like just a bit of overkill. It would probably be adequate for the store employees to just ask people not to take pictures if they see people taking pictures. Simply because of the no photography signage, I feel like this store is either really struggling business wise or has something to hide, or both, and I decided not to buy anything. I probably will not return to this store ever again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Courts at Spring Mill Station; City: Conshohocken, PA; Review: I am writing this review as a frequent visitor to the property (I am very good friends with one of its tenants). The building itself is visually pleasing and seems well constructed. It appears that the property owner tries hard to market the complex as a luxury, high-end community. There are some innovative features like media / entertainment rooms and exercise facilities that are not as nice at many other suburban Philly apartment complexes. Furthermore, the location is perfectly suited to an easy commute on the Manayunk/Norristown regional rail line into Philly. What prevents me from giving a higher rating is the extent to which I get the impression that this property is all about making as much money as possible above anything else. My friend lived at this property for two years and paid a high amount of rent each month, but when it came time for his lease to be renewed, the management didn't just offer a modest or inflation-based rent increase ($25-50-100). They tried to up his rent by more than $500 per month! Who does that? For the amount of money they wanted him to pay for a new lease, it was no longer worth it and he wisely chose to move on. So to any prospective tenants of this property, you're probably okay if you only plan to stay here for a year and you'll move on when the lease is up. But don't be shocked if the building owner/property management tries to heave an unconscionably high rent increase your way if you want to be here more than a year.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ACME Markets; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Take your business elsewhere. I really wish this store would just go out of business and be replaced with a nicer store that offers fair prices and treats customers with more class. Some of the sale prices can be extremely good (e.g. boxes of pasta for under $1 quite often, bananas for $0.69 a pound) but regular-priced items are often a ripoff. Kellogg's Special K might be over $5 a box when it's not on sale, when it's widely offered for $2.50 or so at cvs, rite aid, and walgreens almost all the time. Don't even think about buying soda here, as they will always build the city's soda tax into the prices, even though other nearby retailers like the Walgreens at 11th and Locust can offer 12 packs of soda for 3 for $9 still. Beer is available - and the selection is quite diverse. Unfortunately, it is taxed at 10%, which is a higher tax rate than you'll pay at the Bella Vista beer distributor just a few blocks south (not to mention their prices beat Acme's too). Whole Paycheck across the street also charges the 10% tax, but their beer prices are often lower than those here. Management is probably aware of their non-competitive pricing, as I was yelled at by a manager one time recently and asked to put my phone away, after taking photos of a few price tags to send to a friend. He said it was a "corporate policy" that no photos whatsoever can be taken in the store for any reason. If a manager wants to spend his time harassing one person over such a trivial matter such as this, instead of doing "real" management work like dealing with the vendors and cashiers and suppliers, it says a lot about the mentality of those who work at this establishment.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Boxers PHL; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This has become my favorite gay bar in Philly in recent months. All of the staff, from Z to Skyler to Erington to Austin have great outgoing personalities and act like they genuinely enjoy working at the bar and interacting with patrons. What I really like is that the establishment is completely unpretentious and non-judgmental. Everyone seems to have a good time, whether they want to sit at the bar and leisurely sip a beer while watching a Sixers game, or play pool while having a cosmo, or dance and flirt while standing and watching RuPaul's All Stars. The employees will not tolerate customers that are jerks towards other patrons or staff, and they handle any incidents that arise quickly and professionally.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mitchell & Ness; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Great selection of Sixers headwear and jerseys, along with tons of other stuff to check out. Prices are very fair for the quality of merchandise offered ( hats $26-32 ). Vanessa was helpful with my questions and checked me out quickly when I was finished shopping.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fox and Hound; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Beer selection is quite good. You'll find a decent set of American beer ( Bud, Coors, sam Adams, Lager, etc) and a really great array of crafts. Not just goose island and victory, but really good breweries like troegs, dogfish head, and evil genius are represented. Unfortunately, it's possible that you'll have to wait a long time to order your beverage. During the Sixers playoff game tonight, there weren't enough bartenders ( by a long shot ) to handle the demand from customers. I saw people walk in and leave after a few minutes without buying anything. That's a sign of poor management. That being said, you'll probably be okay most evenings as long as there aren't too many high profile sporting events on TV; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chipotle Mexican Grill; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Friendly staff, they had no trouble understanding me and didn't ask me to repeat any parts of my order- which I appreciate. Indoor Seating is adequate at off-peak times (e.g. before noon and after 2) but there may not be any open tables at the busiest times.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citizens Bank; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Came into this branch to break a $20 bill into a 10 and a roll of quarters. They wanted me to provide my citizens bank debit card to perform the transaction and said that change is only supposed to be offered to customers. I kind of feel like all banks should provide change to anyone and was surprised by the attitude the staff displayed. Fortunately philly has a wealth of other quality banking options including republic bank and Philadelphia federal credit union, which id recommend over this place.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Panda Express; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I came to this location knowing exactly what I wanted to buy ( a two entree plate with orange chicken and Beijing beef ). What i disliked about the experience at this location was the pushy suggestive selling on behalf of the employee helping me. First, I was asked if I wanted to sample anything AFTER I had already said what I wanted. No. Then I was asked if I wanted an egg roll. No, if I wanted one I would have said " I'll have blah blah blah and an egg roll". Then I was asked if I wanted a drink and I said no. If I wanted one I would have ordered one. You might think that's all the up-selling they could try on me, but no. After I hand my card over to pay, I was asked to make a donation to Children's Hospital. You can probably guess what my answer was. I realize the employee asking me these questions was probably required to ask them. I just wish the management of this location would not require their employees to be so pushy and aggressive with the selling. The food here tastes great and sells itself.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Brach's Jelly Beans, 54 Ounce Bag; Brand: Brach's; Review: I love these - they always come fresh. I only wish I could find the spice jelly beans.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, 2oz (Pack of 12); with 10g Protein & Omegas per Serving,; Brand: Manitoba Harvest; Review: Wonderful flavor and, for some reason they help us sleep. We will be keeping these in the house as a staple.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemonhead Hard Candy, Lemon, 6 Ounce, Pack of 12; Brand: Candy Crate; Review: Whoa! These will knock your socks off. I love them, whether sour or sweet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, 1lb; with 10g Protein & Omegas per Serving, Non-GMO, Gluten Free; Brand: Manitoba Harvest; Review: Wonderful flavor and, for some reason they help us sleep. We will be keeping these in the house as a staple.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Farm Fresh Nuts BRAZIL NUTS Roasted With Healthy Himalayan Salt (1 LB); Brand: Farm Fresh Nuts; Review: My favorite nuts - you can't get these on their own so I was delighted to find them in a one lb bag. They are fresh and good. Himalayan salt is not my favorite -I prefer "Real Salt" but this is good. Update: After having a few of these I've realized they aren't the same quality you find in the mixes. Some of these are inedible. I've gotten to the point of biting it to check the center before really eating it. Once you have one bad one, you're not that keen on accidentally having another.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Daystar, Jeep JK Wrangler Hood Wrangler, stop hood flutter and keep your hood securely shut,; Brand: Daystar; Review: Get rid of those lame hood latches! The Daystar Hood Wranglers are far superior! There is no doubt they work the moment you open the box!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bestop 42640-01 HighRock 4x4 Under Seat Lock Box for 2007-2018 Wrangler JK, Driver side; Brand: Bestop; Review: If you own a Jeep you understand/know the lack of security for your property. This is a great option at a great price. Installs in less than 15 mins and works with the 2011 JK unlimited!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bestop 11203-00 Vinyl Window Cleaner, 8 oz. bottle; Brand: Bestop; Review: Besides having to put some elbow grease in buffing this in, this stuff rocks! The windows look great and water beads off like a freshly waxed car when it rains. Great product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys Stripper Scent Premium Air Freshener and Odor Eliminator (4 oz); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: Yes it smells like strippers but not the sweaty nasty ones. We love the smell in our cars (wife included). Does the job without that really annoying smell a lot of fresheners have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys WAC_201_16 Butter Wet Wax (16 oz); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: I'm in love with Chemical Guys products. I just submitted a large order for more of their products. High quality and worth the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys CWS_402_16 Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo (16 oz); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: Love this soap. Smells great and works great when combined with the Chemical Guys Foam Blaster 6!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys MIC_292_02 Premium Grade Microfiber Applicator, Blue (Pack of 2); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: Perfect applicators. Easy to hold and use with my favorite liquid wax.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys ACC_326 – TORQ Foam Blaster 6 Foam Wash Gun – The Ultimate Car Wash Foamer that Connects to; Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: This thing really works. Adds super suds which makes heads turn. My neighbor was begging to use it after he saw my jeep completely covered in a thick foam. Not as impressive as the CM Foam Cannon but pretty damn good!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys AIR_101_04 Premium Air Freshener and Odor Eliminator with New Car Smell Scent (4 oz); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: Smells great! Very high quality Air Freshener. My only suggestion is give two sprays then let it sit before adding another. A little goes a long ways, a lot makes for a LONG ride home.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys WAC_CLY_100_16 Luber Synthetic Lubricant and Detailer (16 oz); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: I love the smell and the price. Sure you can buy the detailer at autozone, but you'll over spend. Clay Luber is a 2 for 1! Use it while claying your vehicle or use it as a detailer. I will be buying more soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys ACC_141-2PK Ultra Fine W-APS Refined Foam Applicator, Black (Pack of 2); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: Not much to add about these. They do the job, and the UFO angle does make is easy to get in those hard spots. Super soft will not scratch your finish.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys CLD_202 Signature Series Glass Cleaner (1 Gal); Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: This stuff rocks. For the price, get the gallon! You'll find yourself using a-lot of this stuff because you'll see how great it cleans your windows. When using, use the two towel method to rid of the streaks. Go to the Chemical Guy's YouTube channel and watch their directions. The best part is that this is safe on all windows even with aftermarket window tint! The smell is very nice as well!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thermo-Tec 14010 3 ft. 5/8" - 1" I.D. Thermo-Sleeve; Brand: Thermo-Tec; Review: Great for insulating Oxygen sensor wiring! I had a O2 sensor plug melt as it rested on the cat. I rerouted the wiring and used this to clean up the look as well as protect the wires from heat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mityvac MVA660 Power Steering Adapter; Brand: Mityvac; Review: It's expensive but it works. I have a 2011 Jeep Wranger and this works perfectly for the steering res.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chemical Guys EQP_310 TORQ Professional Foam Cannon; Brand: Chemical Guys; Review: This thing kicks butt! I have a jeep that I love to get muddy. I can foam up my rig and watch all the dirt just fall off. A must have for anybody who owns a pressure washer!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ECOGARD XC10008 Premium Cabin Air Filter Fits 2011-2017 Jeep Wrangler; Brand: EcoGard; Review: Okay I like these a lot for the price. My only complaint is they seem to restrict air flow (not a huge amount, but I noticed). Nonetheless I will continue to buy these because they make sense for the money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Divan Bodrum; City: Golturkbuku Bodrum Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Well, visited the place with my wife last week for 6 nights. Welcommed in a very pleasant way and smile specially from one of the best employees we ever met (Zeynep) she is stunning. Upgraded us for free. Served well in the room, very clean place and excellent rooms. Pool is great but service is not that good. Only served well if Alper or another young lady were there. A bit crowded pool with few chairs. People tend to reserve chairs on both pool and beach. Sea is a bit cold where it is summer but it is not the hotels fault. View and location is fantastic. Sea service again if not Abu Bakir serving us wont get much attention or good service Night sea area for dining is not acceptable and staff are not welcomming food all over the hotel is fair not that someone wishes to try again. Wifi is chargeable for about 16 euros a day which is a high rate plus it is not serving good quality Gym is appalling where it is small, hot temperature and smells stinky. Rooms are fantastic. safe place to be and again excellent receptionist and location; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swissotel Resort Bodrum Beach; City: Bodrum City Bodrum Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: booked for 3 nights but had a difficutly to reach bodrum therefore checked in late night of the 2nd day, Hotel is fairly new which only opened 4/6 weeks earlier. the hotel is really big but to be honest not the type I prefer. its really far away from the airport and the city center. you do not have anything to do at night except for sitting in a restaurant of theirs not even by the sea. gym is closed, pool is cold and apalling, small and right in front of restaurant where I went to have a swim and everyone having breakfast was facing us which felt wierd, rooms are fantastic to be honest, comfortable and amazing design.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: stayed there for 3 nights last month. to be honest I do not know why its rated as 4 stars, staff smile but never want to help you. at check in and out they see you waiting in line and just leave you go to the back office and come back they offer services as bike rental but never available and not even try to help you out as a tourist in alternatives the most apalling service was with hand luggage, had to take mine up to the room, when checking out I asked for help and they said we do not offer this type of assistance! place was clean but in 3 days room was cleaned once only! bed was really comfortable, toilet and room I rate as average 5/10 location is superb, no smoking rooms or balconys but thats fine only thing I loved is the location and bed itself but still do not know how is it rated more than 3 stars; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Voyage Bodrum; City: Bodrum City Bodrum Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Stayed there last month for 5 nights. First time to book in an ultra all inclusive hotel. location perfect. Staff ALL are superb except for reception. I asked for an upgrade even in the next nights or change my room for a sea view, i would accept it if it wasnt available which I doubt but the way the replied to me was really apalling in regards to the hotel overall its fantastic except for 2 things. noise at night keeps for hours and the room itself needs to be re designed and new furniture, the bed was not comfortable at all!! having a nap next to the pool was more comfortable other staff were really nice and serves you pleasantly. they never lied about all inclusive where they were really generous in everthing with big portions. food buffets for meals serves a variety and nice but gets boring after 3/4 days location is perfect. you even get the small boat with only 6TL to city center and get there in about 5-7 minutes gym is old and not much to do. my wife tried the massage and loved it. loved the place overall but would go there if rooms were re-decorated and beds were changed; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Collection Milano President; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: My wife and I stayed there for 3 nights. We arrived to Milan a bit early and got an early check in which wasn't expected specially where it was really busy. then got upgraded. having the first 2 points always makes customers give good reviews but to be honest it wasn't only this. Leaving aside that constructions were being done right infront of the hotel but its not their fault. I loved the location about 5 mins walk from the duomo. Spacious rooms, very clean, welcoming staff, good Wi-Fi, multiple of car parking lots by the hotel. Comfortable beds. They even have a service of portable wifis for use when leaving the hotel! Been in other NH hotels in Europe which is a brand I prefer due to price and location, but this one is surely the best so far; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel van Cleef; City: Bruges West Flanders Province; Review: Stayed there for 2 nights with my wife. Cannot express how I loved everything about the place, whether it was location, cleanliness, great staff, details, comfort, antiques every single thing! it really gives a vibe of living in a luxurious house with some history but really classy. details of missoni, colorful details. really love the place; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Barchetta Excelsior; City: Como Lake Como Lombardy; Review: stayed there for one night. its very difficult to find when driving, hard entrance and had to park and walk with luggage for 10 mins. they have a private parking place in another hotel 2 mins walk which is fine. Had to wait a lot where many checked in at once and only one person to serve. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Location is fantastic. Had a room on a the 7th or 8th floor (lake view) which is very beautiful. Bathroom and room are very spacious and clean. Bed is comfy and big. Loved the location and think it deserves the price you pay for; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sonne; City: Fussen Swabia Bavaria; Review: I was very amazed with the hotel.. in a good way.. stayed there for one night. great location for walking distance to center or castle as well as driving distance to the lake and other castle. Hotel is extremely classy, fresh, great coffee shop, lovely breakfast, nice staff. Loved the room where I was upgraded and it was very big with great bathroom. lovely design. Great parking process and wasn't expensive at all by all means its always recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Central; City: Seefeld in Tirol Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: stayed there for one night. It was really hard to access driving but its normal. parked my car in the garage and they were helpful in directing me and helping out. Staff were very friendly all time and smiling even checked me in early. Hotel is quite big. located in a very great place, easy walking access to every location in the centre. A bit old but was very clean and comfy. relatively spacious rooms, didn't like to bathroom a lot but was really fine with me. Comfy bed, clean place really recommend specially where they charge really fair prices; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aloft Stuttgart; City: Stuttgart Baden Wurttemberg; Review: Booked for one night. to be honest found out later on that Aloft is sort of a big hotel series in Germany with a system only followed by them which will be explained. Drove to Stuttgart, found the place easily along with easily finding a parking space and accessing the hotel. Lobby is on the 2nd floor with quick check in process. Room was very clean, nice, simple way or organization. Hotel is on a complex outlet with many shopping areas. as well as being right next to the underground less than 1 min access. 2 stops (less than 5 mins) to city centre. Everything was excellent with the hotel. Really loved it and will sure book there if planned to visit Stuttgart again which is something I look forward to. only issue is wasn't advised well from the guys on reception in regards to parking tickets; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melia Desert Palm Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: To be honest its a bit late review it was November 2014. Stayed there for 2 nights at the beg of my honeymoon. Loved the place, the private pool villa was just fantastic. Loved everything. But I think more than 2 nights will be very boring. Bit expensive but options were limited back then. Job location not far from airport nor centre. Clean and comfy and good staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Nuremberg City Hauptbahnhof; City: Nuremberg Middle Franconia Franconia B; Review: will try to have my review simple. drove there, tried to park and staff was really impolite when directing me and rude. Parking access was easy later on. Location about 10 mins walk from centre (more or less) but is great. Rooms are fantastic I was offered to input if I wanted a smoking room when booking but it isn't a main request so when checking in the same staff member made me feel like I am going to commit and crime and sort of threatened to not smoke but I was fine with it. Internet didn't work a lot and needed to go twice to ask for it Room size it nice, safe place, clean small bed and not so comfy. The room view was really bad as well which was an under construction railway station. good bathroom great breakfast but overall, for the price paid its very good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cornavin Hotel Geneva; City: Geneva; Review: stayed there for one night. Great location in center and access to everything needed it very close. Central, great parking lot right next to it. friendly staff, good check in timing. Got a very big room with great view. room from inside is spacious but old furniture, didn't like the bathroom at all, decoration is bad. Still use keys for rooms and relatively expensive; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Paris Elysees; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Stayed there for one night. Hard to find a parking space. Cozy, quite, friendly staff. Central located but need about 10 min walk to champs elysees but and far from Eiffel tower. Nice rooms, very comfy bed, clean. but price isn't that fair; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wyndham Garden Duesseldorf City Centre Koenigsallee; City: Dusseldorf North Rhine Westphalia; Review: Drove there to stay for 2 nights. Staff were really precise with check in timing even for 10 minutes. Wifi was really bad. Parking space is very close and safe. Good location for Koenigsalle (10 mins walk) but far if walk right to centre. Had issues with door hard to open, small doors. Bit old corridors. great room design and cosy but bad beds (small). Prices was very good; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Augustin; City: Brussels; Review: Had issues finding the place and to find a parking space. Staff were friendly and helpful. Serve yourself with luggage. Good room size and good comfy bed. Good access to train station. Clean place. Bit noisy from a construction building next to it. But overall good and good price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: West End Hotel; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Simply lovely place and staff. Location is great, had a welcome gift from the staff (key chains and Eiffel tower chocolates), lovely breakfast. Great reflection of Parisian life. Lovely furniture and really loved the staff. Easy walking distance max 10 mins to Champs Elysees and Eiffel as well. Room is nice along with bathroom Only 2 points. Wifi needs major improvements and beds are really small they are good but I think I fell twice in the 3 nights If beds issue was fixed. I think wont ever think of booking another hotel in Paris again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Annecy Centre Vieille Ville; City: Annecy Haute Savoie Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: booked there for one night. Excellent price (had an issue with reservation but it happens specially with international cards). Easy access to place with great parking access. Perfect location and fantastic view. Simple check in and check out process. great and simple room. Very clean but bathroom is ok. Fresh, comfy, simple loved it so much. easy walking access to everywhere in the city. Wifi isn't that good. Great price!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Z at Gloucester Place; City: London England; Review: Well, I read various reviews before booking which were negative specially in regards to multiple buildings, small rooms, wifi and noise. I think non were true in terms of comfort. I arrived hours before check-in and explained my situation and got a very early check in with an upgrade. Staff were more than excellent in service. Room was extremely spacious not even compared to London. Very clean, nice and comfy bed and bathroom. Location is excellent (5 min walk to oxford road. Loved the place and for sure will be one of my first choices for next London trips; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amba Hotel Marble Arch; City: London England; Review: Lovely location, extremely great room (specially when upgraded), comfy bed, great Wifi and breakfast. loved the service and bathroom. Everything is great about this place except for the price which is a big expensive but that's a bit normal to London itself. But definitely recommended; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Olivia Plaza Hotel; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: Well, arrived there around 8 am which is far from early to check in. Eli was extremely helpful and considerate where we checked out of the cruise on that day and helped us to check in at 10am! isn't that a service for a couple on honeymoon? Also got an upgrade with an extremely lovely view. not only that, then received a welcome note with a gift. Location is extremely lovely, Wifi is great, Room space, cleanness and bed size/ comfort is 10/10. Cannot find anything to moan and criticize about where I am really picky person. Would definitely be my first choice for my next visit to Barcelona; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Park Avenue Baker Street; City: London England; Review: stayed there for 3 nights. check in was really fast. located in 2nd floor with no elevator and really small corridors/stairs (tiring to be honest). Room space and OK specially to London. very clean and comfy bed and bathroom but bit noisy corridors and door squeeking. Staff were friendly. they provide you with portable mobile for internet etc service for free which is lovely. location is great from Baker street and 10/15 mins walk from Oxford street. Price is expensive but they all are in London aren't they :), recommended for short stays and looking for a comfy room to stay in.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Premier Kapital Opera; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Stayed there for 2 nights. Check in process was great and fast. Staff were very friendly. Hotel interiors excellent. Room size OK for Paris and very comfy and clean. Breakfast wasn't that good we sat there and due to us being last 2 on the floor no new stuff put for us and had to eat whatever is left noting that we paid for it. Location isn't that good. Far always needed a taxi to go anywhere (costing 10-20 euro) per ride. Hard to find taxi next to hotel unless we ask reception for it. but price was very good compared to others. But will pay extra to save taxi`s next time I think.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eden Hotel Fruh am Dom; City: Cologne North Rhine Westphalia; Review: Arrived there by car. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND A PARKING SPACE where they said its the street next to them. Had to park a couple of blocks away and walk around 7 mins with luggage with me. Staff weren't friendly to be honest and didn't even try to help checking in one hour earlier (but its ok where its their rules), noting it was an off season timing but not counted. location of hotel was FANTASTIC, price was awesome. Room size was good but interiors was less than ok. Toilet ok but overall good for what you pay for. Breakfast was included and was very good to be honest. Process was fast but have to say it again, location IS AWESOME; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aloft Stuttgart; City: Stuttgart Baden Wurttemberg; Review: Wouldn't be recommended by me if it was my 1st choice to my second visit to Stuttgart. Not much changed in experience except for minor comments but will put in my whole feedback. Location is great, in the mall and 2 stops away using the tram from city center. (2-3 mins) Parking space (experience change): was hectic this time hardly found a parking lot and would love to see if the hotel has its own spaces which wasted my time. Rooms, lovely as always, clean, comfy, great Wifi and bathroom. BED is the greatest. View wasn't that much but not a big deal. To give them the trust. mentioned that wasn't informed about parking charges reduction for over night last time. Noticed a new sign next to parking door with details and true! saved me half price! Great job! Hotel was very busy so was a bit noisy. Check in process took more than 20 mins where only 2 serving many customers which should be looked at. Price was more than last time and a bit pricy. Overall, if price gets lowered and process of check in is fastened along with designated parking lots. Will surely be the only hotel I stay at in Stuttgart.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LEDERER s LIVING; City: Kaprun Austrian Alps; Review: Ok, not sure from where to start. I rarely give 5`s but this ones deserves a 10! Location: awesome, 10 mins from Zell Am see, easy access, middle of town. great view of Kaprun and mountains. Skiing 7 mins away. Just perfect! Exterior: just simply breath taking, modern with a nice cozy style. Check in: greeting was just the best, small 5 min orientation with all info and details given. Just classy! Room: Lovely in every single detail. Comfort, style, hygiene, noise, wifi, just beautiful Balcony was lovely with awesome view. Café in front of hotel was just a place you wouldn't like to leave Parking is in basement (bit hard to park) but its the way its built breakfast, just speechless on variety, service and how nice it is. Price is very reasonable Love the place and wouldn't think of booking anywhere else on my next trip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gorgeous Prague Rooms; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: Well stayed there for 2 wonderful nights. Let me explain how the hotel operates. Reception is in the next building, just next door to the room entrances. Not sure if the whole property is for the hotel or just a couple of rooms because it seemed some where occupied for a while and was very noisy. Check in was very quick. STAFF ARE EXTREMELY NICE, POLITE AND HELPFUL. Just loved them Had some difficulties moving our luggage after a long trip (lots) to the room where you enter the building and go up the stairs to the 1st floor to the elevator then stop at the 4th floor and go one floor down to the 3rd (where our room is located- may be not correct in the floor details but correct in the concept) Room size was fair. amenities fair as well. Bathroom very good. Wifi great. View great. Bed is high and not that good. almost no closet just to hang some stuff and no drawers. Room wasn't cleaned on time. breakfast isn't on site you have to go to another place so we passed it. Location is awesome in old town and quite/ elegant area. Price is high but fair for Prague. Again, staff were just great. Recommendation, if small group/couple with little luggage just go there if not will find some difficulties Also arranged us airport ride in great price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moselstern Hotel Brixiade; City: Cochem Rhineland Palatinate; Review: Well drove there to stay for one night. Easy parking access for free. Location, LOVELY across the river with a great view of the town and less than 4 min walk across. Check In: Fast and nice process. Hotel was almost empty and asked for a good view but placed us in a quadruple room noting that we were a couple which I didn't like. Asked for a nice view but noting that hotel was empty we were charged for extra 20 Euros for a double room with view. Theyre right but wasn't up to customer experience. Anyways, Room size was great, hygiene was great as well. Hotel interiors along with room is less than AVG which is not nice at all and very old. Wifi is very poor. Bathroom is ok but didn't like much. Room with balcony has great view and nice seating area. Bed wasn't comfy. Breakfast was good with nice lady who was very lovely. Price is great to be honest but wont go book there again if planning to visit Cochem again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de L Europe By HappyCulture; City: Strasbourg Bas Rhin Grand Est; Review: Drove to Strasbourg for one night (UNFORTUNATELY). Had issues in finding a parking lot where it was Xmas times and most booked or closed even roads. Didn't know how to park in front of hotel so had to park across before the river and drag the bags while walking for about 9 mins, (didn't like that) but instructions to park weren't mentioned. That's a mark down.. Anyways, hotel location was pretty good in center. Staff were EXTREMELY helpful and friendly (LOVED THEM). Room size was great and comfy, hotel was cozy. Bathroom is ok but can be better. Wifi service is something AWESOME. there was a discount for Xmas and even wasn't charged for it! Price is great and bed is SO COMFY Do recommend the place but need more info in advance in regards to parking.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kaiserin Elisabeth; City: Vienna; Review: Well, This hotel can be debatable, Started with, booked it on a same day but different month by mistake and tried to fix it within the same hour or so (1 month in advance and in an off season), but they insisted in charging me more due to a non cancellation policy. This is their right but mistake was honest and didn't want to cancel rather than adjust my mistake in choosing the month and this would've been great in customer satisfaction. Drove there and circled around 7 times to find it. Entrance is on a Non entry road. had to park around 4 blocks away with luggage which started the experience negatively. Mentioned it to them they said you can park infront of the hotel and we will arrange it to be parked for about 35 euros (more or less if I'm not mistaken), turned to be cheaper doing it yourself. Location is extremely LOVELY and the best you can get, right in middle of attractions and great walking distance I am not a fan of history and old fashioned stuff. this hotel is historically oriented but in a very lovely way which I really liked. Check in was fast, smooth and lovely staff Hate the key dropping process where I might come and leave a lot and this may bother the staff but I am ok with it. They always smile! very friendly Room space is huge and great. Comfy, with rags all around which I loved. Very historical as mentioned but lovely! Bathroom isn't that much but is ok. Wifi is very good Cant write about breakfast where I needed to check out very early to drop my car and catch up a train. Bit expensive but again. Great location, nice staff, spacious room and historical (Even Mozart stayed there once lol); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Park Avenue Baker Street; City: London England; Review: It was my 3rd time in this hotel. Always recommend for business trips or short stays but faced a couple of issues this time. Booked for 4 nights and had to extend stay for another 3 nights. first 4 were perfect. other 3 nights had to change the room twice which isn't convenient but as they mentioned they were fully booked. Anyhow, it made me experience different rooms. Bed comfy if it was a single big bed, twin rooms not recommended (small and stuck next to each other), never take a room more than the 2st floor where its tiring to go up and down the stairs. Love the interiors, Staff are really friendly. Even the restaurant staff was more than friendly and generous to the little one. Wifi is fine. Location is great. But had a visit to London after a month and didn't book because think prices are increasing there massively. Anyways, would recommend if you book a big bed and not more than the 1st floor; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Regency Hotel Kuwait; City: Salmiya Hawalli Governorate; Review: Well, It was my 5th/6th stay at the Regency last week. Check in was fast, friendly and professional greeting. An upgrade with a relatively good cost. Room View wasn't the nice, Cleanliness was great. Bathroom awesome. Room Dining In food quality wasn't the good but fast and expensive. Bed wasn't comfy which was shocking. Amenities in the bathroom very little and not changed much. The lobby and was awesome, love the smell and quality of staying there with the high ceiling. But service was really slow. Only issued one card and needed one to enter the gym. Had to wait more than 10 mins to enter by staff. Pool is nice but service is slow, and was really noisy where you can barely relax. Check Out took ages where only 2 serving all rooms. Overall, I love the place and the service. But bed was shocking and service is being extremely slow.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Location isn't Ideal, Parking takes a lot of time even with Valet. Check In was fast. Going to the room itself is tiring and if you want a ride by golf carts you have to wait a lot. Price is great to be honest but room is outdated. Uncomfy bed, old interiors, didn't like the furniture. Pool is ok, Sea side isn't that much. Was relaxing on one of the pools and staff were putting tables next to me and asked to move because its closed for buffet. It wasn't nice at all knowing that it was around 3pm which is early! Wanted to extend for a couple of hours due to late flight, they had the service but looked like they used it against me and asked to charge about 85% of room rate for a full day. Anyways, seems that hotel used to be one of the best but is seriously old and outdated. Food is fair; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Presidential Apartments; City: London England; Review: Stayed there for 6 nights with friends. Check in was fast but staff werent that friendly. Loved the location and price. Room space was great but furniture was a bit old and bathroom is a bit cranky. Beds not so comfy but again prices and location are the best.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Dusseldorf Konigsallee; City: Dusseldorf North Rhine Westphalia; Review: Stayed there for 2 nights with the family. Check in was very fast. Room size was excellent, location as well. Staff were ok. Only one elevator which took long to reach floor and doesn't fit alot. car parking is very small but there are nearby locations. beds are good as well as bathroom and price is very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de L Europe By HappyCulture; City: Strasbourg Bas Rhin Grand Est; Review: 2nd stay in the same hotel for the 2nd visit to Strasbourg. Even though the price was more than last time, I didnt think twice before re-booking. Even though I do recommend re-visiting the prices. As always, the staff are one of the best thing this hotel offers, love them all and how great they are. Check in was great, fast, friendly and got an upgrade just because of my babies bed for free. (but to be honest, can imagine how small the room i booked was because even after the upgrade, room was incredibly small), Bed was small as well but comfy. Love the wifi router given to us. the location is amazing even if the parking on site is difficult to drive to if your not familiar to the place (2nd visit and had difficulties to park there and parked in another place, but they helped with a discount) Room is clean, bathroom as well but a bit small. Again, just love the staff and the location so much!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Central Plaza Hotel; City: Zurich; Review: Drove there with my family for a 2 night stay. Found difficulties in finding their parking which turned to be underground and they have to open for you and a bit expensive but nice and safe. Location is amazing. Check in was very nice and smooth. Room size wasnt that good but is ok. Nice and comfy bed. Small bathroom but very clean and nice lovely view, nice lobby and safe place. Cafe is a bit slow, outside cafe/restaurant closes very early and rude a bit. very small gym no service in assisting with luggage. walking distance to train station and safe place. everything is just next to you bit expensive but recommend anyways.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ritz Carlton Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Well, stayed there for a week end of Jan to Early Feb for a course. Check in, one of the slowest i have ever experienced. Gave me the option of a twin separate bed room or if I want a king bed will be a far away room. Off course anyone would choose a big bed even if its far (not knowing exactly what far meant) when staying for a week due to needing to rest. experienced a slightly rude staff but never-mind. Room was very very far AVG 5-8 min walk to lobby every day! Another downside, is that I was placed in a room that is from the old place before re-construction, meaning almost everything was old even room service/DND electro sign not active and had to use sign on handle. Bed was comfy, room size was great, AC excellent, Room service cleaning and food was nice. Toilet were not clean. Got disturbed every single day by room cleaning on my break Food from hotel restaurant was ok but recurring after 3rd day Construction right next to them, actually next to my balcony which was noisy, at least sound proofing will be a nice option.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Graz City; City: Graz Styria; Review: Spent a night there as a pit stop with the family. Drove there, easy access in the city; great parking lot with direct access to the hotel. quick check in and efficient. nice staff. Room size is fine, bathroom is nice but only shower curtains so if you take a shower whole floor will be flooded which is not pleasant. not nice gym, location is good for city access but is a bit hard to walk to attractions if you have kids. nothing much right next to the hotel so have to drive, take a txi or walk for at least 10 mins (was rainy that day) bed is nice as well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austria Trend Hotel Europa Wien; City: Vienna; Review: Was our last stop ending our summer trip. Stayed there for 4 nights with the family Location is extremely fantastic. Staff were great, luggage assisted with. Check in process was smooth and fast. Didnt like the steps needed to use to go to the elevators, pretty hard with a baby stroller but to be honest they always offered assisting or for us to leave the stroller with them. Room size was lovely, clean, comfy bed, safe hotel, bathroom wasnt that good but is okay. Room temp was nice, amenities needed always there. Nice cafe/bar with always friendly staff. Bit noisy doors in corridors when other guests go in/out of their rooms. No gym if your interest. But is highly recommended and will be one of my first choices for future visits to Vienna.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lozenge Hotel; City: Athens Attica; Review: Booked there for one night as a pit stop. Arrived very early around 6am. Check in timings is known but there we extremely helpful in taking luggage and checking us in around 9am. Location is excellent, classy street. Nice and welcoming staff. Security around the hotel. accessible to many nice locations. Small nice lobby, liked the cafe but kitchen closed early on our day. Room was nice, comfy bed but a bit small. Clean room and bathroom. Nice small balcony and good AC Price was very reasonable and staff helpful with needs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ambassador Aegean Luxury Hotel Suites; City: Akrotiri Santorini Cyclades South Aegean; Review: booked a private pool cave room for 4 nights last week. A bit expensive but was late in booking. around 20-25 mins from airport. Location is close to everywhere AVG drive 15 -20 mins to most known places but almost nothing around the hotel. Arrived a bit early round 8am. No one was there to help with luggage from the entrance (only time to be honest, maybe because we arrived a bit early to give the benefit of the doubt) Reception is lovely, Staff welcomed us in a very nice way. Had us sit on a table with a great lady who gives ALL details about santorini (you cant imagine how well she knows everything and the details she gives you) It was still early to check in the room, they allowed us to sit and refresh in the reading room which was fine. tried the restaurant on the pool )was not good and not recommended), service was ok though. We were promised to check in before 12, another lady started her shift and was a bit rude, even if its the policy, you shouldn't give promises! anyhow they gave us the room around 12:30 which was nice of the rest of the staff who were extremely lovely To be honest all staff were great except for the lady mentioned above didnt find the gym to be honest maybe wasnt that close where it mentioned that they do have one service on taxi arrangements, transportation everything is more than perfect, you call them they do answer even when you are out and they have things done for you! Walking to the room through the cave isnt a nice experiences, very dark (head bumped many times lol) Phone service not good around the hotel unless you are next to the lobby,. not good wifi as well. Room size was awesome and lovely. Bathroom wasnt that clean and smells a bit with stains on the tub bed was ok, lighting is ok but hard to get the hand of it pool area was very big and nice and nice seating area with good view and excellent way to have breakfast with only 10 euro extra but extremely small pool. Didnt like the pool to be honest. VERY COLD, VERY SMALL, SALTY rooms are not the private, other guests can always see you at the top of the hotel is a place where tourists stop to take pictures so mostly you are in one of those pictures if you stay there plus gets noisy sometimes. had an issue with our AC last night we were staying they took us to another bigger villa and dealt with it professionally. extra charges all over are very reasonable and again staff are more than great even when we checked out, our flight out was late. we kept our stuff with them, managed a visit to Oia, came back and used to reading room and all was perfect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Address Dubai Mall Residences; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Stayed there for 2 nights. It was unfortunate that I checked in when they had their renovation most facilities were closed but was only for one night for my 2 night stay. Staff were friendly and professional everywhere without an exception from reception, room service, in room dining, security. Location is great and access to DXB mall is nice. Room is spacious and extremely lovely. Breakfast is very good. Didn't like the pool where rarely get sun due to many buildings and plants surrounding the place along with noise from construction nearby. Lobby is a bit tight and not much places to stay, Gym is fantastic. Room service is excellent. Had a double bed but don't like the concept of putting 2 beds together which hurts the back. Anyhow, very nice experience where its my 7th stay with the address but the first with Add DXB mall.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: IntercityHotel Hamburg Hauptbahnhof; City: Hamburg; Review: Drove there during the roadtrip. Not hard to find, easy to find but parking lot wasn't ideal inside to be honest. Reception were friendly, checked us in early without hesitating. Comfy, spacious room and bed. Ok bathroom. What I loved about the location is; easy to drive in the city and out without going through traffic plus, only 5 min walking distance to all center. Extremely amazing. Reception is a bit busy but extremely nice. Quiet and clean plus good price. Need to add pillows though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Collection Dresden Altmarkt; City: Dresden Saxony; Review: Drove there for one night. Had difficulties finding the hotel and parking lot but isn't their issue where its located in the old town. Parked next to the entrance and they gave me a marked map on the route which lead right to underground parking for the hotel. Check in was smooth. Location is lovely, price is very reasonable. Not sure if the room size was the average or got a free upgrade because they never mentioned and room size was more than great and lovely view. Reception were friendly, safe place with bank/starbucks just under the hotel. Reasonable walking distance to town and old town. Nice bed, bathroom. Just loved it and everything was more than perfect for me to be honest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ramada Plaza Istanbul City Center; City: Istanbul; Review: OK, well have a really detailed review here so bear with me,, Booked 2 rooms for 4 nights with the family. Called in before booking asking for connected rooms for the kids and they said ensure to book a bigger type of room (Executive if I can remember) so I did and ensured to put the request. Arrived there and they said its not possible by will give you 2 rooms next to eachother which is not really convenient but what could I do? :) Anways, Location is nice but very hard when taxi picking us up and dropping us. Extremely noisy outside the hotel (recommend fixes or soundproofing) where I can also hear other rooms. Got annoyed a lot outside the hotel as well (as a side comment for your experience) Faced issues with the entrance where I had to close the baby stroller and carry my baby every time entering and exiting the hotel. But very friendly staff and helpful to be honest. Check in was ok, room size is extremely lovely. Amenities are excellent, bed size very big and comfy. Bathroom is more than excellent and comfy. Room was a bit hot, couldn't open windows due to being very noisy outside so asked for someone to fix it they did so but after reacting strangely from my request. Gym was nice but closes by 10 which wasn't convenient to me. The point the I hated the most and criticized a lot which caused me a pain every single day and wasted a lot of time are the room keys and locks. Every day whenever I leave the room and come back I have to at least go back down to the reception to reactivate the keycard or change. Once needed 3 times and someone to open up where the room lock wasn't functioning well. It is a very clean and comfy place, safe inside and got a very reasonable price to be honest.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rum Budapest; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: Location was nice, not more than 7 mins walking distance to city centre with lots around the hotel and a café just down the corner. Hotel lobby was with great layout, nice staff and took our luggage before checking in where they were strict with timings which is ok. Only one elevator which is a downside. Room was on 6th floor which is extremely noisy around us specially where outside guests visit the rooftop and there is a free bathroom next to us. Room size is fair, small bed but comfy. Bit dark in the room. Bathroom is nice. They offer late check out for 10 euros on every extra hour which I asked for during check in they couldn't give me more than one hour which is to check out by 12 (regular check out is 11am) Weird thing is that they are strict with 3pm check in. Anyways their right and they gladly assisted with luggage and managing airport ride. It is a clean and safe place with friendly staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Stein; City: Salzburg Austrian Alps; Review: Drove there to stay for 2 nights. Location wasn't hard to find and was amazing "right in middle which is perfect for tourists' but didn't have a parking lot and nearest was about 5 mins walk (imagine with luggage, extremely cold weather which was snowing) at least recommend valet service. Check in was fast and nice staff, walking to the room is a bit tricky too many entrances on the floor. Room size was excellent, Bathroom was lovely, spacious room with nice design except for the wallpaper on the cabinet (but taste differs) Everything was nice in the room except for the heat. Was very hot and AC wasn't on, if we open the window it was extremely noisy but bed was more than comfy Gym was not as expected but ok. But pricy but loved the walking distance to anywhere; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghaya Grand Hotel; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Booked for 2 nights last week. Location is close from many areas but nothing by walking distance nor nice views at all. Very big hotel, reception check in process was slow. Ok design is ok but not to that extent Smell in corridors going to the room wasn't nice, lots of cooking etc. Room size was more than perfect, bit outdated furniture. Bed size is nice but not really comfy. Bathroom is ok, great amenities. Shower isn't that good and needed to wait for more than 10 mins for hot water and when it came out pressure was very low. (reported it first night and checked out without anyone fixing plus kept waiting for 2 hours after first call without being visited) By the way, also by 2 nights no ones cleaned the room where whenever I left, I did leave the clean room sign on door. Staff were friendly. Gym was fantastic, safe place, lots of services around the hotel (pharmacy, gym, pool, coffee shop, lots more) Pool size is nice but cant get enough sun due to location. Prices around the hotel are very reasonable but room prices was exaggerated after tax about 25% extra. lots of stuff are outdated and lobby can be extremely busy and noisy sometimes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie; City: Berlin; Review: Drove there for one night during our road trip. Location is fair but not the best to be honest or the worst. Parking lot is spacious and nice. Reception is great along with staff. Big hotel, very clean and spacious rooms. Clean room, well laid out, comfy bed and clean bathroom. When checking out was abit crowded but isn't their fault anyways. Downside is the location to be honest which is not the best; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: location is more than perfect and awesome. Check in was smooth, friendly staff (Gabi was more than professional, helpful and sharing all info needed for the trip), they even check us (3 rooms) in early. Hotel is a bit outdated, rooms spacious but are extremely outdated, very comfy bed but small if couples share, AC not working, bathroom is a big issue and a rate 1-10 is given from me. Partial closet which isn't nice, no fridge in the room or minibar. Good hotel security and safe hotel, ok gym which is good for couple of nights. Room cleaning is perfect Price is over for what you get to be honest but again staff and location are great.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Royal National Hotel; City: London England; Review: We have just stayed 3 nights at this hotel. When my partner booked this hotel a month ago and I then read the reviews I have to admit we had a stinking row! Maybe it was because we were expecting the worse that we were very pleasantly surprised! Yes the hotel is used for school trips but that was no problem at all. It seemed that the school trips were accommodated on different floors to us as we didnt see them on the coridoors. We had a refurbished room on the second floor which was excellent and a decent size.The room overlooked the entrance which is a square courtyard. My partner is a Victor Meldrew who can be irritated by a ticking clock! and yes we could hear a gentle hubbub of chattering voices from the foyer until we fell asleep but it wasnt disturbing. When arriving at the hotel we were quickly attended to by polite staff. We went down to the breakfast room at 9.30am each morning and it was very quiet so I presume that it is much busier if you go down early . I am quite fussy about breakfast but I was pleased to find muesli amongst the cereals and also a choice of 4 fruits . We had paid for an English Breakfast and we weren't disappointed .There was scrambled eggs, fried eggs, beans, tomatoes, bacon, sausage all cooked well. There was toast and marmalade of course aswell . Even though my partner was on crutches due to a torn ligament we managed to walk to Covent Garden (10 minutes) and Waterloo Bridge (25 mins) the first day. Next day we paid £26 each at reception for a 24 hour bus/river pass. We had a great time in the 4 days we were there. We went on the Eye (£19) and the dungeons which are near Tower Bridge are worth a visit -very entertaining!(£23). The walk to Aldwich Theatre and Drury Lane was about 20 mins.The walk from Kings Cross was 15/20 mins . We will go again and definitely use the same hotel .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Belvedere; City: Lovere Province of Bergamo Lombardy; Review: We have just stayed 3 nights at the Belvedere. It was easy to find on the main road. The 2 men who ran it were helpful and friendly . Our room was on the road overlooking the lake and we had a big balcony with beautiful views of the lake and mountains. We arrived in the rain which didnt help and felt that the room could have been a bit more cheerfully decorated and there was a musty smell in the hotel but it was very clean. The balcony could have been made lovely if it had plants on it -but like the whole of Lovere there were no plants or flowers to be seen anywhere! We would have preferred a simple buffet breakfast . We didnt expect a lot at the price but it would have been nice to have had some cereal and have helped ourselves . There was just croissants and bread and jam and those packets of cold toast that Italians seem to love! Lovere itself was disappointing. I couldnt understand why guide books said it was pretty. As I said before , there were no flowers anywhere to be seen and the little park by the lake was overgrown and neglected and the nearby fountain was dirty .Lovere was bigger than I had imagined and the lakeside sprawls and doesnt have a proper centre. I didnt feel that it was geared to tourism . There are no nice little gift shops. One shop on the lakeside had a large display of guns and knives which we found quite offensive! We were disappointed that we couldnt rent bikes. I spoke to the girl at the tourist information and she was really nice and said that she would mention all these things . She was helpful and advised us to drive to Sale Marasino (about 30 minutes I think) and get the ferry to Monte Isola . We were really glad we did this as the island was gorgeous and we rented bikes there to cycle round the island.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: B B Il Ciliegio; City: Bergamo Province of Bergamo Lombardy; Review: We chose Ciliegio because there was secure car parking and also I thought it sounded nice to be a bit out of town. Ciliego was a modern type villa on 4 floors and we had a top floor room which was huge, very pleasant and immaculately clean. It was peaceful and we slept well. English speaking Filippo managed the house very well on his own and could not have been more helpful . We were surprised at how easy it was to get to Alta Citta . The no 3 bus was 500 metres away and no 6 bus to the "new" town was almost outside the door and they both ran very regularly. Filippo ran us to Alta Citta when we arrived there and later we walked back. I didnt time it but it may have taken 30/45 minutes all downhill. Each day we got the bus there and walked back but if you like walking you could walk there aswell .It was just that it was uphill to Alta Citta and we both had leg injuries so we didnt attempt that! Filippo enquired about bike rental for us and told us there was one by the train station so we took the no 6 bus , alighted at Porta Nova and walked 5/10 minutes down to the station where we hired bikes (10 euros each for full day) and rode 3 km to Alzano then joined the cyclepath along the River Serio which was lovely. If we had not have rented the bikes I would say 2 nights in Bergamo is enough to look around. There were 2 restaurants within 500/700 metres : De Nero and Roccolino. We went to Roccolino twice as the staff -especially Sam were so friendly. One night we walked up the main road to a big Pizzeria -cant remember the name but it was on the right. Apart from that there were 2 little bar/caffeterias. Just a mention on some prices : The city tax payable to Ciliegio was 2 euros each a day . The bus fares were about a euro a time and Filippo obtained the tickets for us. The Funiculare(cable car) was 1euro 20 a time and dont make the mistake that I did and throw your ticket away as if you return on the cable car within 75 minutes you can use it again! 75 minutes is probably enough to look around the new town. It is preferable to wander around the Alta Citta.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sole Relax Panorama; City: Riva Del Garda Province of Trento Trentino Alto Adige; Review: The hotel was just minutes away from the lakeside, restaurants and shops. The room was very pleasant and so was the foyer. Staff were helpful and provided us with bikes to rent within 10 minutes of our request at 4 euros each for half a day. There was secure parking for the car. The buffet breakfast was to my liking as there was muesli and prunes and a good cup of tea!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel Hotel Arillas; City: Arillas Corfu Ionian Islands; Review: We have just returned from a week at this hotel. Thanks to a previous review we took advantage of Costas collection from Corfu Airport which was really useful. The room was basic and very clean and we had 3 lots of fresh towels during the week. There was a fridge in the room so as we were able to keep milk there we wish that we had brought a kettle as my partner loves a cup of tea as soon as he wakes up! The only thing I would change would be the breakfast as it would have been nice if there was a table where we could have helped ourselves to cereal/fruit/yoghurt but that was not on the breakfast menu. Instead we were served a Greek breakfast of toast which was nice but also cold meats/cheese/tomato/cucumber which isnt our thing! But all in all it was a very pleasant stay. Arillas is still lovely and unspoilt. Sharon at the poolside bar helps to get the stray cats and kittens spayed so if you have a conscience about stray animals go give her a donation whilst you are there . It is always the British people who try and do something about the stray cats and dogs situation abroad -and they are doing a good job as is Cheryl in Peroulades and Jenny in Sidari (she has a little cafe near the Canal D'Amour end).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Barbon Inn; City: Kirkby Lonsdale Cumbria England; Review: My partner and I have just spent 2 nights at Barbon Inn. We cannot fault it. Lovely room/big ensuite bathroom with bath and shower/good food/excellent breakfast/friendly staff. We especially liked the layout of the bar with a separate section with big settees and log fire. I have to mention the 5 mile walk we did from Devils Bridge to Whittington and along the River Lune. If there has been some rain then take an extra pair of socks with you as a couple of the unmade lanes had become rivers! Two other couples at the Inn also did the walk so dont let me put you off -just go prepared!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Britannia Leeds Bradford Airport; City: Bramhope Leeds West Yorkshire England; Review: Just thought I would put a few lines on here to say how disappointed I was that we could not speak to anyone to give us details of a funeral tea. I called in on 22nd January and there was just one member of staff on reception and a queue so after 5 minutes I left as I could see nobody else around to ask. My sister phoned twice on 23rd but was unable to speak to anyone again! I don't like to criticise but just thought that it needed to be brought to your attention. We have chosen another venue.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Oxon Hall Touring Park; City: Shrewsbury Shropshire England; Review: Just spent 3 days here in our tourer. We are members of Caravan and Camping Club and after a little discount paid £26.50 a night. The tariff is a bit more than other sites but it is obvious why when you get here as it is so spacious . It is like a big park. It was very easy to find as its just off the main road. The Coop and the Oxon Park and Ride are at the entrance to the site. Because there is a long drive it still takes 5 minutes to walk to the entrance. Some reviews had said how useful the Park and Ride was but I have to point out that the last bus back is about 6 pm so if you want to go into Shrewsbury in the evening you would have to get a taxi back. I think it would be possible to cycle in but we didn’t have time to do that. The information bureau said that it was because of the cuts that the buses stopped so early! We were very busy during the day so we didn’t venture in at night. Every night we went to the Toby Carvery which was a 10 to 15 minute walk from our caravan. We enjoy cycling on the flat so I picked up some leaflets from the information bureau . There weren’t any at the site. We took the bikes to Bridgnorth in the car, parked in the station and then we cycled the Mercian Way and back , a total of 20 miles , which was very easy and enjoyable. It is a disused railtrack and part of route 45. It was easy to find. Bridgnorth is a nice place and from there the Way took us to Ironbridge which is a pretty place and very interesting. One day we drove to Coalport to the Victorian Open Air Museum which we strongly recommend . You need 3 hours there. Great for kids and adults –lots of school trips there. It is only a couple of miles from Ironbridge where there are many more museums based on the Industrial Revolution heritage. We drove into Shrewsbury and parked at St Julians Car Park and walked a mile along the river by Quarry Park and then back along City Walls . There were lovely gardens there and saw the lodge where Percy Thrower had lived and worked! Another day we walked in the central area of Shrewsbury where all the medieval buildings are. We will consider going to another Morris Leisure campsite which is near Bridgnorth . The site was immaculate, excellent showers and also a big shop which sold stuff for caravans etc where I was able to buy toilet solution. Not many caravans were located by the duck pond so we didn’t really see that much but our pitch was a bit elevated which had a nice feel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Akti Aphrodite; City: Sidari Corfu Ionian Islands; Review: There was so much choice of reasonably priced accommodation in Sidari that it took me hours to choose! I did not go for the cheapest -I chose Akti Aphrodite as it was on the beach and also had a swimming pool. The sea nearby was not suitable for swimming in -its really only suitable to swim at Canal D'Amour beach a mile up the road . The hotel was very quiet - in fact we were the only ones there the last few days and there was only one member of staff there, a 21 year old Hungarian boy called Tom who was really nice and had only been there since June. The pool was filthy-it had a scum on the surface and had leaves floating in it and little sticks and dead flies around the steps area. We were very disappointed that we could not use it. It was obvious that there was to be no intention of cleaning it. The last day that we were there half the water was drained out. We did not say anything to Tom as we felt sorry for him being left to cope alone as there were sometimes holidaymakers bobbing in from outside for coffees and food so he had to cope with them and he had to do everything!Booking .com asked me for a review of this hotel but then they didnt print it so I will complain here instead. I would not have booked this hotel if I had have known we wouldnt have use of the pool . I really feel that we should have been given a refund. The grassy area on the beach which belonged to the hotel also hadnt been maintained . The grass was 2 foot high in some places. The rooms wee nice but everything outside had an air of neglect.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Emeraldene Inn Eco Lodge; City: Hervey Bay Fraser Coast Queensland; Review: before going to Hervey Bay, we did a lot of research on accomodation and decided to book our stay with Emeraldene Inn based on the reviews on this website. we were not disapointed in the least. Rob the owner/Manager was super helpful and friendly, he booked us on the Shayla whale watching tour and we had a blast! we highly recomend this resort, its clean, comfortable and close enough to all the action (5 minutes drive from the beach). the resort is wonderfully landscaped with a pool and ample parking. it was nice to relax and watch all the birdlife - truly a relaxing stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Artique Surfers Paradise; City: Surfers Paradise Gold Coast Queensland; Review: the artique resort is an apartment style accomodation, great location, good facilities and very modern. we rented a car so it was a good base as the resort is close to pretty much all the attractions. for travellers who like a personal touch and a 24hour reception i wouldn't recommend the artique resort as reception is only open for part of the day and shuts early on the weekends. there is no housekeeping service, no room service and you have to take out your own rubbish- its an apartment not a hotel. nevertheless we have a good stay at the artique resort, would definately stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Malee s Nature Lovers Bungalows; City: Chiang Dao; Review: we stayed 2 lovely nights at Malee's Guesthouse after our 1 night stay at Chiang Dao Nest-(which we didn't enjoy that much). i must confess Malee treated us more like her niece & nephews (rather than paying guests) & we thoroughly enjoyed the special treatment she lavished on us. we stayed in the honeymoon bungalow which was a bit cramped with an extra bed for the 3 of us but would have been perfect for two. the room was in no way luxurious but it was perfectly adequate with a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains overlooking a small creek on the back porch. it wasn't air conditioned but it rained pretty much the whole time we were there (rainy season) so the fans did a good job of keeping us cool. we didn't do much touristy activities which Malee offered to arrange for us as we've done all that on a previous trip to Chiang Mai so instead we enjoyed tagging along with Malee & her husband Kurt when they ran errands. we woke up early one morning to accompany malee on her morning shopping at the local market where she bought buffalo meat (ive always wanted to try it), veges and fish that she later cooked for us , we even got an impromptu cooking lesson from Malee herself. the food we had here was the best food we had during our entire 10 days in Thailand, it wasn't fancy-smancy restaurant food but delicious tasty fresh home cooked meals. the staff used fresh herbs picked from around Malee's garden for our meals which really impressed us. The tom yam and fish with crispy herbs were excellent. she also made som tam, stir fried mushrooms and buffalo stir fry which weren't on the menu but she made especially for us. Malee also helped us buy 10kgs of Fresh Lumyai fruits from a local orchard at a rock bottom price of 20baht a kilo! when the day came for us to leave, Malee & Kurt personally drove us to Chiang Mai because our Minivan wasn't available. on the way to Chiang Mai we stopped at a local eatery to have breakfast and Malee paid for the food and drinks she also bought some local desserts and cakes for us to take home. she also took us to Warorot Market because my sister wanted to buy cushion covers, souvenirs & table clothes. before we parted ways we took Malee & Kurt out for lunch, by that time we felt pretty much like family. we highly recommend Malee's nature lovers Bungalows to anyone!! thank you very much Malee & Kurt we promise to return again one day, kob khun mak mak na khrap.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sarang Galloway Bed Breakfast; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: We stayed at Sarang Galloway for 3 nights in July 2010 in between trips to Cambodia & Thailand, as we were a big group of 7 we booked the whole house for ourselves. the house was very comfortable with pretty much everything we needed for a stopover trip, we thorougly enjoyed our stay there and it really did feel like a home for us. Christina was a wonderful host, while the rest of the group went out sightseeing one day Christina came over to visit me & Mum as we didnt really fancy going out that afternoon. however Christina manage to persuade us to go out for lunch with her which we hapilly agreed to and did not regret. she took us for the best roast pork & roast duck at 2 different places in KL. we didnt have any compliants about Sarang Galloway, however people who are light sleepers might find the roadworks and hotel construction nearby a tad noisy and annoying. nevertheless thats only temporary and it didnt bother us 1 bit, the excellent, sincere & personable hospitality lavished on us by Christina and her team was what made our stay at Sarang Galloway special. do stay there, i highly recomend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Supsangdao Resort; City: Krabi Town Krabi Province; Review: we (10 adults & 2 young children) stay at Sup Sangdao Resort in July 2011 and had an absolute blast! we booked 5 x bungalows and stayed here for 4 wonderfully relaxing nights. the resort is gorgeous, the individual bungalows are luxurious, beds super comfy, garden landscaping is beautiful and the food excellent. the resort does not have a proper restaurant but they do serve breakfast which is included in the rates. the best part about this resort is the owner, a local thai muslim family they were ever so nice and accommodating to all our needs and request. one evening after a long day out island hopping we didn't feel like going out for dinner so we asked if they could cook us a simple home cooked dinner, they didn't disappoint us with a very delicious meal. The owner's wife & sister in-law are excellent cooks and we thoroughly enjoyed our home-cooked meal. so naturally we ordered lunch and dinner for the next day as well which they happily did for us. we made full use of the free internet and the pool during our stay, and the hotel owners arranged a very cheap and professional thai massage in-call service for all of us too. thank you very much Jantana and family, we really had a wonderful time at your resort and we will come back again one day!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge; City: Oudtshoorn Western Cape; Review: My Mate and i were first time visitors to RSA and ZVML was one of the highlights of our short but fun filled adventure in RSA! The location of the lodge is secluded & pristine covered in Klein Karoo vegetation and surrounded by majestic red mountains-wait till you see the sunset over these mountains nothing short of Breathtaking! the lodges were simple but absolutely comfortable, built with a lot of care for the environment and we felt very warm & toasty inside even though our stay was in early spring with very cold nights! during our short 2 nights stay we went for a walk on the property and spotted the Springboks and zebras amongst the Karoo vegetation but didn't see the Hartebeest unfortunately (although we did spot kudu, eland & the local Nguni cattle on the neighbouring game ranch which was awesome). ZVML is covered in thick shrubbery & succulents so count yourself lucky if you get to meet the animals while out walking especially in spring when theres a lot to eat in the bush so they don't visit the dinning area for food. on our short walk we managed to spot no less than 12 species of birds too which was great for a bird lover like myself! special mention must go to Jann an honest, down to earth friendly host who made us feel very welcomed and well looked after. we were lucky to be the only guest in-house at that time so we received all the attention from Jann & his assistant Amanda. We enjoyed chatting with Jann by the fire while waiting for dinner, Jann's cooking is without a doubt the best we've sampled in South Africa and this comes from my mate who's a sous chef by trade and i'm no slouch in the kitchen myself so Kudos to Jann. Jann has put a lot of hard work, blood, sweat & tears into this wonderful resort and were really admire the work he has done to transform this place from a barren overgrazed semi desert to what it is now (you can read about it all in this information booklet left in each lodge). Best of luck with your stream project & eco-friendly herb garden Jann we look forward to visiting again sometime in the future. Baie dankie from Adrian & Darryl (Dunedin, New Zealand) ps, we still cant find that darn blue phone haha; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Petersfield Farm Cottages; City: Citrusdal Western Cape; Review: My mate and i visited RSA last month and made it a point to visit the Cederberg Area to see the wildflowers and based ourselves at Citrusdal. Right from the beginning of the online booking process, John Ross was exceptionally helpful, informative and downright friendly and answered all our questions in great detail (we have a lot of questions too this being our first time to South Africa!!). Once we arrived at the farm we were blown away by the beauty and tranquility of the farm, the front part was planted in all kinds of citruses and rooibos tea, while the back half of the farm (where the chalets are) were kept in their natural fynbos vegetation. John was there to meet and greet us and we chatted for a while over cups of Rooibos tea before he directed us to our chalet with a bag full of complimentary oranges right from his farm =) We stayed at the stonehaven chalet, although its probably more suited for couples on honeymoon my mate and i made the most of it. it was well equipped, very comfortable and had the most amazing views. The fireplace came in handy on our second night when it was cold & pouring outside, coupled with the flickering lights from the oil lamps it was just fantastic. we didnt bother with the electric lights at all, we only use the iPod dock to charge our phones and played some music as well as making full use of the kitchen and cooked our own meals there.We didnt get a chance to use the little pool or the outdoor bathtub out the back due to the cold but im sure in summer the pool would be sublime. in the early mornings we walked all around the farm, amongst the fynbos and citrus trees taking lots of photos along the way. I highly recommend a stay at Petersfield farm especially if you're from Cape Town as its only 2.5hours away. We came all the way from New Zealand and enjoyed every moment we spent there, the only regret we had was that we couldn't stay longer. thank you very much John & Hedley for your wonderful hospitality, we hope to come back again one day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fullham Lodge; City: Camps Bay Western Cape; Review: we stayed at Fullham Lodge at the end of August and thoroughly enjoyed our short stay there. We booked the Garden Suite which was extremely comfortable, luxurious and we felt completely at home. Tina is a wonderful and gracious host and Isaac (the live in staff ) was great, we were still on New Zealand time when we arrived and woke up at 4.30am on our first morning!! we walked around the property and relax around the pool area waiting for the sunrise and breakfast which is usually served at 8am but Isaac (who was up at 5.30am) saw that we were already awake promptly prepared a sumptuous breakfast for us which was a nice surprise. Fullham Lodge is worth every dollar you pay for, the views are amazing and the service is top notch. thank you very much for making our first trip to Cape Town a memorable one we hope to return again one day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Two Tin Cow B B; City: Kalbarri Kalbarri National Park Western Australia; Review: we were in Kalbarri for 2 nights in early September to check out the whale migration & wild flowers and our stay at the Two Tin Cow was the highlight of our trip! We arrived on my birthday and Kaz surprised us with a oh-so-delicious home baked Mud cake which was totally un-expected but very much welcomed. the apartment is spacious (we were the only guests so had the whole place to ourselves) extremely clean, fully equipped & furnished to a very high standard. on one of the nights we had really windy cold weather but the apartment was cosy & warm and we barely heard the wind. In the morning we enjoyed walking around the property amongst the olive trees and the surrounding area and spotted plenty of wildlife within a very short distance of the B&B. The breakfast was delicious, views to die for, friendly cute dogs but the most memorable part of our stay was the genuine hospitality of Lui & Kaz. they gave us a lot of handy local information about the best restaurants, activities & top locations to spot wildlife & wild flowers. Unfortunately we were about 4 weeks too late for the wild everlastings blooms this season but its a good excuse to come back again next spring to redeem our "Frequent Friesian Points" at the Two Tin Cows B&B. Kalbarri is a magical place, come visit & stay at the Two Tin Cows. We highly recommend it!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EKA Beach; City: Talpe Galle District Southern Province; Review: we stayed one night at EKA Beach and had a wonderful time. Andree the owner made the time to come in and meet us and made us feel very welcomed, she also gave us some great tips on places to dine. we had a small issue with our stay & Andree was very prompt & understanding & quickly fixed the problem for us. we came at the wrong time as the sea was very rough so we didn't see any turtles but the best thing about EKA is the amazing ocean views. we had the room directly on the beach, a tad small but sleeping to the sound of waves was amazing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Olga Tokarczuk: the dreadlocked feminist winner the Nobel needed; Abstract: From her Man Booker International winning novel Flights to her William Blake-infused eco-thriller, you can't go wrong reading this great Polish author; Category: entertainment
Title: Here's the skinny on what actually flavors a pumpkin spice latte; Abstract: ; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 'Ghost kitchens' are taking over fast-food chains from Chick-fil-A to Wendy's; Abstract: Wendy's became the latest fast-food chain to name-check ghost kitchens on Friday at the company's investor day.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Hunter Biden Steps Down From Chinese Board as Trump Attacks; Abstract: Hunter Biden is stepping down from the board of a Chinese-backed private equity company and promising to forgo all foreign work if his father, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, is elected president in 2020.; Category: news
Title: Fort Worth police shooting: Atatiana Jefferson shot and killed in her home; Abstract: A black woman was shot and killed by a white police officer in her Fort Worth, Texas home after a neighbor called dispatchers to report the woman's front door was open, police said.; Category: news
Title: I ate the same meal at America's three largest sub chains here's the one that reigned supreme; Abstract: I ate the same meal at Subway, Jimmy John's, and Jersey Mike's, and the winner scorched the others with the fastest service and best-tasting food.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: Why Do Americans Drive Automatic But Most of Europe Drives Manual?; Abstract: Fewer Americans are learning to drive stick shifts, but Europeans prefer them. These are the reasons why. The post Why Do Americans Drive Automatic But Most of Europe Drives Manual? appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: autos
Title: Is it cheating? It depends on your relationship; Abstract: As how we date and mate have evolved over the years, from heteronormative marriages to swiping right on dating apps, so too has our idea of what constitutes cheating. Now more than ever, the concept of stepping out on a partner is more vague and the very definition varies. So what exactly is infidelity and how do some of the increasingly diverse dating labels fit into the discussion? Read on to find out.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Search resumes for worker missing in New Orleans Hard Rock Hotel building site collapse that killed 2; Abstract: Rescuers resumed searching Sunday for a worker trapped in rubble after a deadly construction collapse in New Orleans, officials said, but the building's instability is making for a precarious situation.; Category: news
Title: Food Network stars: Where are they now?; Abstract: We're checking up on the biggest chefs, hosts and foodies of Food Network fame to find out what they're doing these days.; Category: tv
Title: Nevada gambling bosses move to bar Wynn from casino industry; Abstract: The complaint filed Monday by the state's Gaming Control Board lists sexual misconduct allegations that have been lodged against the mogul since January 2018. The complaint asks Nevada's Gaming Commission, which acts on the board's recommendations and has final say on licensing, to fine Wynn and revoke his status as being found suitable to be licensed in the industry.; Category: finance
Title: Finally, An Electric Crate Motor You Can Drop Into Your Old Car; Abstract: ; Category: autos
Title: Rosario Dawson is being sued by former transgender employee for assault, battery, and discrimination; Abstract: Rosario Dawson is being sued by former transgender employee for a slew of charges, including assault, battery, and discrimination; Category: movies
Title: Simone Biles Shares Sweet Birthday Tribute for "Man of My Dreams" Stacey Ervin Jr.; Abstract: The accomplished gymnast has a lot to celebrate right now.; Category: entertainment
Title: Cummings' widow responds to Trump's attacks, gets standing ovation; Abstract: Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the widow of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, appeared to respond to President Trump's previous attacks of her husband during a speech at his funeral.; Category: video
Title: Mexican town turned to war zone fears new era of narco violence; Abstract: The bullet holes splashed across the walls are an unnerving reminder to residents of Culiacan: There is no telling when the narco violence that terrorized the Mexican city last week could return. But both Sinaloa residents and security analysts say there was something new in last week's violence.; Category: news
Title: GM calls UAW workers back to plants, targeting truck assembly first; Abstract: GM said UAW workers will resume work Monday, but at some pickup production plants, the automaker is looking for volunteers to start sooner.; Category: finance
Title: Fox News contributor: 'Most likely' outcome is Trump doesn't run in 2020; Abstract: Fox News contributor Christopher Hahn predicted that President Trump will not run for reelection in 2020.; Category: news
Title: Nigerian Women Say 'MeToo.' Critics Say 'Prove It.'; Abstract: It was, she said, a secret that burned so badly she could no longer keep it inside. So at age 34, Busola Dakolo, a well-known Nigerian photographer, went on television and finally spoke. She said she had been raped twice as a teenager by her former pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, a church leader whose services draw thousands, and whose fans, admiring his flashy lifestyle, have taken to calling him "the Gucci pastor."; Category: news
Title: Should You Consider Buying A Used Rental Motorhome?; Abstract: It could be a far better choice than you might expect.; Category: autos
Title: Opinions | The math for Warren's health-care plan adds up if you accept its ludicrous premise; Abstract: The bad news is that Warren's assumptions are crazier than keeping a pet rhinoceros.; Category: news
Title: Anthony Mackie and wife quietly divorced last year: Report; Abstract: The actor filed for divorce in 2017, but the filing went under the radar.; Category: movies
Title: 691,145 Californians left last year: What state did they go to?; Abstract: Look at the comings and goings as a ratio of ins to outs. Tiny Idaho wins this race with 497 arrivals from the Golden State for every 100 former Gem State residents who moved to California.; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bestop 42640-01 HighRock 4x4 Under Seat Lock Box for 2007-2018 Wrangler JK, Driver side; Brand: Bestop; Review: I have two installed, one under each seat in the front. The compartment is a bit too small to store my 9mm; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KeylessOption Just the Case Keyless Entry Remote Control Car Key Fob Shell Replacement for KOBDT04A; Brand: KeylessOption; Review: I use the blue cover to distinguish between my blue Charger keys and my Jeep keys.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NoOne LED Light Booster Jumper Cables 4Ga x 18ft Medium Duty with Reverse Protection Digital LED; Brand: NoOne; Review: So much better than the stock grab handles...these stay secure and do not come lose when pulling yourself up into the Jeep.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KeylessOption Keyless Entry Remote Control Uncut Ignition Car Key Fob Replacement for KOBDT04A; Brand: KeylessOption; Review: Works great...have the spares I need now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jeep JK Control Box - Electronic 6 Relay System Module; Brand: SuiTech; Review: Easy to install...great way to add additional accessories to my jeep.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rugged Ridge 11232.25 Windshield LED Light Bar; Brand: Rugged Ridge; Review: Fit great...needed to drill a wider opening at the bottom to feed all of the wiring through it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
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