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The best luxury hotels in Luang Prabang for your next trip to Laos

Planning to visit Luang Prabang, Laos soon? We’ve compiled a list of five luxury hotels situated in and around Luang Prabang, Laos.

Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also home to lovely luxury hotels. The charming North Central Laotian town boasts a blend of architectural and cultural heritage through its prismatic patchwork of villages, temples, and cultures. As a travel directory on where to stay when travelling here, find below a compilation of five luxury hotels situated in and around Luang Prabang, Laos.

Here are the best luxury hotels in Luang Prabang, Laos

Rosewood Luang Prabang

First up, we’ve got Rosewood Luang Prabang, an alluring riverside property nestled in the lush green jungle that encircles the historic royal settlement of Luang Prabang. This, alloyed with an emanating waterfall, mountainscapes, and a river streaming through the hotel — the five-star resort’s landscape is ideal for nature enthusiasts. As for the interiors, this Rosewood property takes its cue from the French-Lao architecture, reflecting the influences of ancient temples, while luxurious tented villas honour the explorer spirit. Guests have five accommodation types to choose from: ‘Riverside Rooms,’ ‘Riverside Suites,’ ‘Riverside Villas,’ ‘Waterfall Pool Villas,’ and ‘Hilltop Tents.’

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Sofitel Luang Prabang

For travellers with an affinity for historical properties, we recommend booking a stay at the Sofitel Luang Prabang. Outfitted in a French colonial fort and built on a heritage site, the century-old landmark is rich in both history and culture. The centrally-located luxury hotel exquisitely coalesces colonial grandeur with contemporary sophistication, resulting in a lavish nature-centric hotel. All in all, the Sofitel Luang Prabang is where French opulence meets Laotian culture. The property houses five room types comprising four ‘suites’ options and one ‘villa’ option, all of which feature elegantly-crafted furnishings. All the suites are equipped with a

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New Hampshire adventure park closes until further notice

Gunstock Adventure Park at Gunstock Mountain Resort closed Thursday and will remain closed until further notice after the resort’s entire management team resigned Wednesday night.A sign at the ticket office Thursday notified people that the park was closed.”Coming up here, I was super excited looking at the mountain and how beautiful it is, but we’ll find something else to do, I guess,” said Kalie Walker, who was visiting from Florida.Tom Day served as the president and general manager until Wednesday night, when he and the senior management team resigned. Commissioner Gary Kiedaisch also resigned at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Gunstock Area Commission.”We didn’t want to do this,” Day said.But he said managers felt they had to resign because of what he called the overreach of the Gunstock Area Commission, a five-member board appointed by the Belknap County delegation.”The biggest problem we had, we feel that we deal with everything with honesty, integrity and respect with our staff,” Day said. “We asked to be treated that way also. We don’t feel as though that was happening. They also said they had the right to come in and do what they wanted.”Members of the commission met with Gunstock employees Thursday afternoon. News 9 spoke with Commissioner Jade Wood, who declined an on-camera interview, but said the commission’s No. 1 priority is the staff. Wood also applauded employees for their hard work. “This area commission that oversees Gunstock just doesn’t see the value,” said Gov. Chris Sununu.Sununu said he doesn’t blame the Gunstock managers for walking, and he said the commissioners and Belknap County state representatives should be removed from the board.”The people of Belknap County have all the opportunity in the world, whether it’s through elections or a recall effort,” Sununu said. “Change that team. Bring that management team back in.”In … Read the rest

Can you hit them all on your next visit?

Walt Disney World guests don’t need a fancy camera or paid Memory Maker photo package for fantastic photos.

Disney PhotoPasses photographers will gladly take photos on guests’ cameras and cellphones for free, upon request. Fellow guests can also help snap group photos in a pinch. And there are always selfies, which are especially fun with free Disney PhotoPass Lens filters on the My Disney Experience app.

The important thing is knowing where to capture the magic, away from crowds. Here are 16 of the best locations for photos across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida.

Confessions of an ex-Disney princess: What it’s really like and what guests don’t know

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Magic Kingdom

Cinderella Castle

Many people stop along Main Street U.S.A. for a photo of Magic Kingdom’s signature Cinderella Castle. Keep going.

Just past the Partners Statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, guests will see two sets of archways. The interactive map on Disney World’s website identifies them as Central Plaza East and West Gazebos.

The arches beautifully frame guests standing against the columns, with the castle in the background.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Dumbo the Flying Elephant delights kids of all ages in Storybook Circus.

The attraction is particularly popular among families with young children because there is an air-conditioned play area along the queue for the ride.

Guests don’t have to ride Dumbo, however, for this photo opportunity just outside the big top.

The Purple Wall

It’s easy to miss this highly

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Marcus Mumford Announces First Solo Tour for Fall

Marcus Mumford has announced a fall tour — his first as a solo artist outside of Mumford and Sons — that will take him to 31 cities in North America over a two-month period, starting Sept. 19 in Boulder and wrapping up Nov. 10 in Toronto.

The tour dates consist mostly of gigs at historic theaters like New York’s Beacon (Nov. 7), L.A.’s Wiltern (Sept. 30), Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium (Oct. 30), the Chicago Theatre (Oct. 24) and Seattle’s Paramount (Sept. 26), along with a few dates at super-sized clubs of note like Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa (Oct. 17). He’ll join the bill at two festivals along the way — the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas will be one of his first stops (Sept. 24), followed by the Austin City Limits Festival (Oct. 9).

More from Variety

Danielle Ponder will be the opening act for the first half of the tour, Sept. 19-Oct. 14, with the A’s as support on the second half, Oct. 17-Nov. 10. (See the full itinerary below.)

Although it’s not officially part of the tour, a select few fans will get a preview of his solo music in a one-off show this weekend, as he will be hosting a special “Marcus Mumford and Friends” gig at the Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, RI Saturday night — an “aftershow” that will be put on in conjunction with the Newport Folk Festival.

For the regular tour dates, a presale for fan club members will begin Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time, to be followed by a general on-sale July 29 at 10 local time.

The tour is in support of his forthcoming debut solo album, “(Self-titled),” which comes out Sept. 16 on Capitol. The collection was produced by Blake Mills and includes Brandi Carlile, Clairo and

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You Can Stay at the Luxury Hawaiian Hotel From ‘Mad Men,’ Charlie’s Angels,’ and ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ for Less Than $500 per Night

For nearly a century, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel has been a dream getaway destination for Oahu visitors. The beachfront location, distinctive pink paint, and elegant architectural design combine to make the Royal Hawaiian one of the most recognizable locations in Waikiki. Frequent depictions in movies and television have also added to the legendary status of the iconic pink hotel.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel featured in shows like 'Mad Men' and films like 'Charlie's Angels' and 'Punch-Drunk Love' — Royal Hawaiian Hotel a beachfront luxury resort in world famous Waikiki | Andre Seale/Getty Images

Celebrities including Jon Hamm and Adam Sandler have filmed at the Royal Hawaiian, but being a celebrity is not a requirement to afford a night there. If you go at the right time, rooms at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel go for less than $500 a night.

The Royal Hawaiian is a frequent pop culture setting

The story of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel begins almost a century ago, as the Royal Hawaiian’s history section states that the hotel opened to the public in 1927. When the hotel opened, Waikiki was already a popular spot for Oahu locals and visitors alike, and this only became more true as tourism to Hawaii increased.

Over time, other luxury hotels and resorts opened near the Royal Hawaiian, but the pink palace has maintained its status as the premier Waikiki hotel. Because of this glamorous reputation and its unique aesthetic, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel has also been a frequent setting for movies and TV shows.

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IMDb reports 17 titles that have been filmed at the Royal Hawaiian. The first on-screen appearance of the Royal Hawaiian came just four years after it opened with the 1931 mystery film The Black Camel.

When a show or movie has an episode in Hawaii, it isn’t uncommon for the Royal Hawaiian to make an

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JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Cosplay Dives Into Stone Ocean With Ermes

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is set to bring back the Stone Ocean on Netflix this September, with the previous finale seeing Jolyne Cujoh still trying to save the life of her father, Jotaro Kujo, while also trying to clear her name of a crime she didn’t commit. While journeying through Green Dolphin Street Penitentiary, Jolyne made a number of allies, with one of the biggest being Ermes Costello. Now, prior to the return of the Stone Ocean, one cosplayer has brought one of Jolyne’s strongest friends to life with a pitch-perfect take on the supporting character.

Ermes Costello’s Stand is known as Kiss, an ethereal being with some wild powers, even when it comes to what we’ve seen in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to date. When Ermes wants, she can slap a stamp onto a target, splitting it into two and creating a duplicate in the process. When the stamp is eventually removed, the two objects, or opponents, will merge back into one but create an explosion in the process that can be quite deadly. On top of this power, Kiss can also deal some machine-gun-like blows to opponents in some of the biggest Stand battles of the franchise created by Hirohiko Araki.

Instagram Cosplayer Bby Jemz shared this new pitch-perfect take on Ermes Costello, with the next part of the Stone Ocean season set to focus on both her and the allies that she has made while imprisoned in Green Dolphin Street Penitentiary as they dodge the advances of the villain known as Pucci:

While the second series of episodes for the Stone Ocean will arrive in September on Netflix, it might be some time before we see the sixth season of the anime adaptation come to a close if it is following the story of the manga as there are

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One of the Most Relaxing Vacation Spots is in Montana

Sometimes, you need your vacation to be relaxing, with time to clear your mind.

Thrillist made a list of the Best Relaxing Vacation Destinations in the United States, and one place in Montana landed on the list. Montana has many relaxing vacation destinations, but the place Thrillist named is my favorite.

The list claims that one of the most relaxing vacation destinations in the United States is Flathead Lake in western Montana. Flathead is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi and is a dream to visit.

Photo by Ashe Walker via Unsplash

Thrillist describes Flathead Lake as a low-fuss destination to get away from cities packed with tourists, like Bozeman, Big Sky, and Missoula. This lake is loved by many, from fishing fans, to boaters, to scuba divers. It has something for everyone.

I grew up on Flathead Lake and was fortunate to spend many summers hanging out either on the lake or on the shore with friends or family. The lake is massive enough to have several islands you can have a picnic on or explore. Plus, there’s nowhere you’ll find clearer water. It’s a special place to visit.

Photo by Sarithbabu Appu via Unsplash

Additionally, there are several towns around the lake to either camp, visit, or lodge, depending on activities you’re interested in and how quiet you’d like your vacation to be. Polson, Bigfork, Woods Bay, Rollins, and Finley Point are all spots on Flathead Lake that are on the water, but don’t deal with constant tourists.

So if you’re tired of tourists and need some peace, head up to Flathead Lake. You won’t regret it.

Tourists Can’t Pronounce These Five Montana Towns

Montana is a place that is filled with towns

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A Travel Laundry Bag Helps Manage Dirty Clothes Away From Home

Travel can be fun, exciting and broaden the mind. However, whether it’s a city break or a round-the-world voyage, one accompanying reality cannot be avoided — dirty laundry. And even if you choose to do it at your earliest convenience rather than waiting to get home, you still have to keep your worn clothes somewhere in the meantime. That’s where the best travel laundry bags come in.

A travel laundry bag solves the potential issue of what to do with your clothes when you take them off. Forget amassing a stinky pile on the floor or quarantining them in a remote corner of your carry-on luggage, these handy travel accessories take the disorganization out of the situation and make your worn clothing easier to manage.

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The Benefits of Using a Travel Laundry Bag

In addition to giving you a portable laundry hamper, travel laundry bags offer travelers several other handy benefits.

Easier to Carry: A week’s worth of clothing inside a laundry bag is easier to carry than trying to juggle it all separately. Even after the clothes are washed and dried, having a bag to carry or store them in can be helpful.
Keeping Laundry Together: From a luggage organization perspective, it’s a smart idea to keep all of your dirty washing in one place. In addition to knowing where it is, this makes it easier to pack, store or move.
Barrier Creation: Dirty clothes that smell can lead to odors and dirt transferring to places you don’t want them. Storing these clothes in a travel laundry bag puts a barrier between any odors and dirt and everything else.
Laundry Build-Up Assessment: Having a fixed-capacity

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Dane Jonas Vingegaard set to claim first Tour de France title as Wout van Aert wins stage 20

Jonas Vingegaard is set to win the Tour de France after finishing second to his Jumbo-Visma team-mate Wout van Aert in the stage 20 time-trial to Rocamadour.

Van Aert set a time of 47 minutes 59.86 seconds over the 40.7km route from Lacapelle to Marival, 19 seconds faster than Vingegaard, who needed only to ride defensively given his sizable cushion over Tadej Pogacar, but instead attacked the stage and was quickest over the first half.

He faded, almost running wide on a descent late on, but his second place was enough to confirm him in yellow ahead of Sunday’s ride into Paris – his advantage over Pogacar three minutes and 34 seconds.

The longest time-trial to feature in a Tour since 2014 did nothing to change the top of the general classification, with 2018 champion Geraint Thomas fourth on the day behind Pogacar, confirming his podium place at the age of 36.

That means Vingegaard will be the one clinking champagne glasses on Sunday before an anticipated sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees, with two-time defending champion Pogacar making do with the best young rider’s white jersey.

It is a first overall Tour crown for 25-year-old Vingegaard, in an edition that set out from his native Denmark three weeks ago.

Support crew: Vingegaard’s girlfriend and daughter greeted him at the end of the time-trial (AP)

“It means everything, it’s really incredible,” he said as he wiped away tears. “It’s the biggest thing within cycling and we did it.

“Since last year I always believed I could do it and now it’s happened. It’s really incredible. It’s both a relief and I’m just so happy and proud.”

Asked about his aggressive approach, Vingegaard pointed to 2020, when team-mate Primoz Roglic saw his advantage in yellow disappear on a stage 20

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I stayed in a tiny, 107-square-foot hotel room that was inspired by an airline cabin. At $225 a night, it’s not worth the price tag.

In the tiniest hotel room in Singapore.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I spent a night in Yotelair, a chain known for its transit hotels.
Yotelair Changi Airport’s Premium Queen Cabin is one of the tiniest hotel rooms in Singapore.
At $225 a night, I found it was a cramped, expensive stay.

Changi Airport is Singapore’s main airport. It was crowned the best airport in the world for eight consecutive years.

Changi Airport, Singapore.Nicole Descalsota

Changi Airport, located in eastern Singapore, has long been the city-state’s crown jewel. From 2012 to 2020, it was ranked the world’s best airport by UK airport and airline consultancy firm Skytrax.

The airport served over 68 million people in 2019, making it one of the busiest airports in Asia.

In 2019, an extension to the airport, a neo-futuristic mall named Jewel, was officially opened. It cost around $1.25 billion to build. Today, the mall is known for having the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

Tucked away in one of the far corners of Jewel is Yotelair, a chain known for its transit-style hotels.

Yotelair Singapore Changi Airport.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Yotelair is one of three brands owned by Yotel, a UK-based hotel group. Yotelair hotels are located specifically in airports, and are inspired by air travel, a Singapore-based representative told me. The chain launched its Changi Airport location in 2019.

“The Yotel concept came about when the founder was on a first-class flight and saw how it was possible to achieve a comfort feel in a compact space through the use of clever design and technology,” the representative said.

The hotel has two types of rooms: Premium Queen Cabin and Premium Family Cabin. The rooms’ designs are inspired by an airplane cabin, like their names suggest.

But the entry-level Premium Queen Cabin is only 10 square meters

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