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	<title>Orange County Travel Best Spots &#187; group travel planning</title>
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	<description>Expert Travel Reviews &#38; Group Destination Planning for Orange County, California</description>
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		<title>Orange County Restaurants</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/746-orange-county-restaurants.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/746-orange-county-restaurants.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:27:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Orange County]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Restaurants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anaheim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disney restaurants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fine dining]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=746</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The orange county is situated in the southern California. It is a major magnet for the tourists from all around the world and when the tourists are there, the facilities and hospitality is required to make them feel most comfortable. Thus, Orange County is also a home to a number of restaurants.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-857" title="img_999840_primary" src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/img_999840_primary-150x150.jpg" alt="img_999840_primary" width="150" height="150" />The <strong>Orange County</strong> is situated in the southern California. It is a major magnet for the tourists from all around the world and when the tourists are there, the facilities and hospitality is required to make them feel most comfortable. Thus,<strong> Orange County is also a home to a number of restaurants</strong>.</p>
<p>There are a number of <strong>restaurants in Orange County</strong> and of various types. These types can be described in the category of type of food that is served in them. For instance, there are Mexican restaurants; Indian restaurants, Italian restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Greek food restaurants and the most popular ones are American and Californian restaurants. The examples of other types of <strong>Orange County restaurants</strong> are like restaurants for family dining, romantic restaurants and beach front or outdoor dining. Many of the restaurants emphasize on theme dining, dress codes and other occasional activities, thus making themselves more popular. The popularity factor also depends on their respective location. Those restaurants which are situated on the hill tops or cliffs and beaches attract far more people due to the surrounding beauty and mesmerizing sites. A few of the most popular <strong>restaurants of Orange county</strong> are following.<span id="more-746"></span></p>
<p><strong>230 Forest</strong> &#8211; the restaurant named the 230 forest is situated on the Laguna Beach and is considered as a California type seafood restaurant. The average meal price in this restaurant is about 28 dollars and moreover, it is probably a popular romantic spot. The cuisines served here are generally American and Californian and they are in the category of sea foods only</p>
<p><strong>Opah</strong> &#8211; Opah is more of a stylish restaurant than the ones which endorse elegance and beauty. The usual meal cost comes out to be around 26 dollars. This restaurant also holds features like bars, parties and private rooms et cetera</p>
<p><strong>Napa Rose</strong> &#8211; the other popular restaurant is the Napa Rose which resides inside the Disneyland resort, Anaheim and predictably is quite expensive. It is known for its selectiveness in dishes and cuisines and thus is counted as an exclusive restaurant of the orange county. The average cost of meal is more than 30 dollars. The meals provided here are dinners only.</p>
<p><strong>PCH Grill</strong> &#8211; this restaurant is located in the Disneyland, Anaheim. It is not expensive and is as welcoming as a home itself. The average price of a main course meal is about 17 dollars. The ambience here is considered bright and entertaining while the cuisine presented here are American, Asian and Californian.</p>
<p><strong>Restaurant 162</strong>&#8216; &#8211; this restaurant is situated at the top of a cliff and much obviously provides super elegant views of the ocean. This restaurant provides all the meals of the day and features live music and parties also.</p>
<p><strong>Tangata</strong> &#8211; situated in Santa Ana, Tangata is more of an art place to have meal. The cuisines provided here are American, continental, Californian, French and European. It also hosts a bright atmosphere and serves outdoor dining too. The average meal cost is about 20 dollars.</p>
<p><strong>21 Oceanfront </strong>- Located directly on the Pacific ocean boardwalk, this fine dining location is one of the most well-known, beautiful, and upscale facilities in Orange County.  The menu includes fresh seafood, top notch red meat, and some favorites that are sure to please.</p>
<p>The above mentioned <strong>Orange County restaurants</strong> are just the tip of the iceberg and the true list is unending. it&#8217;s just for you to go and <strong>taste the flavor Orange count</strong>y.</p>
<p>Find out more information about <a href="http://www.anaheimwhitehouse.com/">Orange County restaurant</a> and <a href="http://www.anaheimwhitehouse.com/banquets/">banquet halls</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Valley Of Saint Anne &#8211; Orange County California</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/787-the-valley-of-saint-anne-orange-county-california.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/787-the-valley-of-saint-anne-orange-county-california.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:45:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anaheim]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[best hotels in irvine california]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=787</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the south of California, there is a territorial division of the country, a county known as the orange county. Santa Ana is the county seat of the orange county. On the basis of population, it ranks as the 2nd most populated county of California, running a little behind the Los Angeles County and on the basis of area, Orange County is the smallest county in the Southern California.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-807" title="ORANGE WITH STEM" src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/ORANGE-WITH-STEM-150x150.jpg" alt="ORANGE WITH STEM" width="150" height="150" />In the south of California, there is a territorial division of the country, a county known as the <strong>Orange County</strong>. Santa Ana is the county seat of the orange county. On the basis of population, it <strong>ranks as the 2nd most populated county of California</strong>, running a little behind the Los Angeles County and on the basis of area, <strong>Orange County is the smallest county in the Southern California</strong>.</p>
<p>The Orange county was initially called &#8220;<strong>the valley of Saint Anne</strong>&#8221; and was first inhabited by few groups of Native Americans. After some eventful decades, the California legislature decided to <strong>divide the Los Angeles County and form the Orange County</strong>. Orange County was made as definite political entity. It is <strong>named as orange &#8211; the citrus fruit </strong>because it is considered as the most famous product of the area. On economical fundamentals, Orange county makes the money transactions mainly by two ways namely <strong>tourism and business</strong>.<span id="more-787"></span></p>
<p><strong>Tourism is the most prominent aspect</strong> of the economy of the orange county. The <strong>city of Anaheim in Orange County plays a vital role</strong> in boosting the tourism industry and is considered as the major tourist hub. Anaheim is the home of the <strong>world famous Disneyland resort</strong> and the Anaheim Convention center. As the county is <strong>surrounded by the Pacific Ocean</strong> in the south, the availability of beaches lead to the beach resorts which are the source of income due to the consistent incoming of tourists from all around the world. The <strong>beach cities also provide treats like golf, shopping, dining, biking</strong> paths and also hiking trails in mountains, thus boosting the adventure in the visits of tourists. Also, there are <strong>many shopping malls in Orange County</strong>. On a more commercial note, there are a number of companies established in the orange county such as fortune 500 companies, fortune 1000 companies and a large number of regional headquarters which are used for making business deals on an international scale.</p>
<p><strong>Orange County is also known for its interest in literature, religion and the arts.</strong> There are a number of tourist destinations in the orange county which highlight the taste of arts of the county. Some instances are the tourist <strong>spots like Disneyland, Little Saigon, Ronald Reagon</strong> federal and the Cart house in the Santa Ana are other prominent structures. On a religious pathway, Orange County is a home to many famous centers of religious worshiping. Some are the <strong>Crystal Cathedral, the Calvary Chapel, the Saddleback Church</strong> etc. There are a few Islamic societies, Buddhist monasteries also.</p>
<p>A n<strong>umber of novels, films and television shows have been set up in the Orange County</strong>. Novels like California girl and all the bells on earth are set in this county. The Orange County is also known for its indulgence in the field of sports. A number of sports are enjoyed in the county <strong>namely surfing, skate boarding, cycling, and hiking</strong>. Sailing and playing sand volley ball.</p>
<p><strong>Orange County is also a host to a number of prominent teams</strong> of different sports. The <strong>Los Angeles angel of Anaheim</strong> is the major league baseball team who emerged out as the winner of the <strong>World Series in the year 2002</strong>. The county&#8217;s hockey team, titled the <strong>Anaheim Ducks were the winner of the Stanley Cup 2007</strong>.</p>
<p>Thus, Orange County proves to be a true attraction for tourists from all around the world.</p>
<p>Find out more information about <a href="http://www.anaheimwhitehouse.com/"> orange county</a> and <a href="http://www.anaheimwhitehouse.com/banquets/">banquet halls</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Can A Travel Agent Find You A Better Deal?</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/266-can-a-travel-agent-find-you-a-better-deal.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/266-can-a-travel-agent-find-you-a-better-deal.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:43:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel Services]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=266</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available from travel agents in Philadelphia. This informative article should help you focus on the central points relating to PA travel agents.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-298" title="cruise 2003 SHIP" src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/cruise-2003-SHIP-150x150.jpg" alt="cruise 2003 SHIP" width="150" height="150" />When you&#8217;re learning about something new, it&#8217;s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available from <strong>travel agents</strong>. This informative article should help you focus on the central points relating to <strong>travel agents.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Online travel sites</strong> are also starting to offer insurance but it rarely covers all of a trip and there are still fees involved to change everything. Online reservation software can make the difference in travel agency growth or decline. Travel companies work on small margins and efficient online reservation software is the lifeblood of travel companies. Online travel agents might ask themselves whether it is worth displaying such advertisements.</p>
<p>Indian travel agents also take care of various other factors like travel guide books and timetables, sale of in-house insurance, car rentals and the services of an on-site Bureau de change. They also help in the foreign currency exchange. India is blessed with enormous breathtaking scenic beauty, which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. From snow-topped mountain ranges to Emerald Green Ocean, vast wilderness areas to thrilling adventure zones, India has got it all.</p>
<p>Travel agents have access to the latest information on hotels, flights and destinations that a client doesn&#8217;t have access to. This knowledge is invaluable. It is therefore essential for travel-related websites to offer useful, pertinent and easy-to-find information alongside a booking facility if appropriate. The Internet can be used to fully research a destination, book all aspects of the holiday including travel and communicate others who have the same ideas or have been through similar experiences. Visits by residents of Great Britain accounted for virtually all of this decrease, falling by almost 16,000 (7%) to 208,300. Meanwhile, visits by residents of Other Europe and North America recorded slight increases to 149,500 and 45,200 respectively. Visitors enjoy an almost infinite number of options covering every type of cuisine imaginable. Dubai hotels offer some of the highest quality meals to be found.</p>
<p>Ask friends for recommendations &#8212; eventually someone will offer a glowing recommendation of a travel agent. Remember that different agents will have different expertise. Ask your travel agent about the nitty-gritty details of your trip, including airport connections, bus and taxi services, tipping, foreign currency conversion, and safety concerns such as government-issued travel advisories and warnings. Most importantly, get a phone number that you can use for after-hours emergencies (at the airport early Sunday morning after your wedding, for instance) and on your trip (preferably toll-free or collect if calling from outside the country).</p>
<p>Supplier membership includes companies that provide and sell travel related products and services used by or sold by travel agents. Our goal is to drive more business to you through our agent members who have valuable specialty training and expertise in your target market. It is important that these agents have a resource to find and utilize all suppliers that sell products and services within their specialized area. Suppliers who compete with agents by offering online sales can find themselves in a thorny relationship. Many operators also believe their products are too complicated to be booked online, or that travellers need someone to talk them through visas, insurance and other requirements.</p>
<p>Kevin Cotton is the author of this article. TravelAgents2U.com helps you search and compare holidays, flights and hotels. Find your local <a href="http://www.travelagents2u.com">travel agent in Philadelphia</a> plus info on <a href="http://www.travelagents2u.com/travel-blog/">PA travel agents</a>. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this paragraph and links are kept.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Best Restaurants in the World</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/168-best-restaurants-in-the-world.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/168-best-restaurants-in-the-world.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:52:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>guest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Restaurants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel Services]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=168</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Opinions about <a href="http://www.canpages.ca/business/QC/quebec/restaurants/4766-720200-p2.html">restaurants</a> have always been a topic of conversation, especially for those places which have become popular for their food or style. In looking for a new restaurant or just to see if ones opinion is the same others, there are many sources to check on what another persons opinions are about a particular restaurant.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-82" title="stonehill_tavern02" src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/stonehill_tavern02-150x150.jpg" alt="stonehill_tavern02" width="150" height="150" />Opinions about restaurants have always been a topic of conversation, especially for those places which have become popular for their food or style. In looking for a new restaurant or just to see if ones opinion is the same others, there are many sources to check on what another persons opinions are about a particular restaurant.</p>
<p>Recognized authorities When we speak to families and friends about a restaurant, we all have our individual points that matter in a dining experience. Two people may go into the same restaurant at the same time, order the same item and still have differing opinions about the food, presentation, service and ambiance.</p>
<p>There are many authorities on the experience of dining at a restaurant. Most magazines, television and newspaper organizations have food critics and commentators who dine and report on new restaurants and food trends. Many authorities count on individual opinions to rate on certain points such as the type of food, quality, quantity and the skill of the chef. Other points include the quality and selection of accompanying beverages such as wine or spirits. Service, presentation and the experience in the dining area count as well in the rating of the restaurant.</p>
<p>Some authorities such as <strong>Zagat or Michelin</strong>, rely on diners ratings and experiences that are tallied and when applied to a rating system, a measurement in the form of stars or points are given to a particular eating establishment. However with so many eating places and the actual physical effort of tallying opinions of persons who at times may get to sample only a slim cross section of restaurants, properly rating a large area even a single city, can be very difficult.</p>
<p>There are magazines and websites which are dedicated to rating restaurants in a city or region, where people can write about their dining experience. Examples of these sites include Menuism and Yelp. These sites allow users to join as a reviewer, select a restaurant, and enter a rating according to their system and a review for the establishment. While these are good sources for finding a good place to eat, each persons criteria again are different with respect to the entire dining experience.</p>
<p>A noted authority of ratings for ratings is Restaurant Magazine. The San Pellegrino Worlds 50 Best Restaurants Awards and List is organized and compiled by Restaurant Magazine, sponsored by San Pellegrino and other companies.</p>
<p>The winners are chosen by a poll of over 800 food writers, commentators and critics organized into 26 panels representing the different regions of the world. Each panel member has a total of five votes; with no more than three can go to establishments in their region.</p>
<div class="resource">
<div class="about" style="font-style:italic">About the Author: Amy Nutt</div>
<div class="links">Canadian Business Directory featuring a restaurant section which lists the places to go when traveling around the country. Find the best <a href="http://www.canpages.ca/business/QC/quebec/restaurants/4766-720200-p2.html">restaurants Quebec</a>, <a href="http://www.canpages.ca/business/AB/calgary/restaurants/91-720200.html">restaurant Calgary</a> and Winnipeg restaurant among others.</div>
</div>
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		<title>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm Is Not Just A Local Hang-out</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/135-knotts-berry-farm-is-not-just-a-local-hang-out.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/135-knotts-berry-farm-is-not-just-a-local-hang-out.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:05:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Themes and Attractions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel Services]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been going to Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm for over 20 years. I started going when I just a teenager and loved it from the first time I went. When I was kid, it was the place to be. Yeah, Disneyland was cool, but when you&#8217;re a teenager it seems a little kiddie-like. Knott&#8217;s on the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/xcelerator_launch-150x150.jpg" alt="XCELERATOR" title="XCELERATOR" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-138" />I&#8217;ve been going to <strong>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm</strong> for over 20 years.  I started going when I just a teenager and loved it from the first time I went. When I was kid, it was the place to be.  Yeah, Disneyland was cool, but when you&#8217;re a teenager it seems a little kiddie-like.  Knott&#8217;s on the other hand was full of big rides, excitement and plenty of things that teenagers like.  I continued to go throughout my teenage years and it was kind of a local hang-out for the people that grew up in Southern California.  The reason is that most tourist came to town to go to the big attractions, but would often skip the smaller and less known <strong>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm</strong>.  This was great for locals as we felt it was our own private park.</p>
<p>Things changed a few years ago.  Yeah, I&#8217;m not a teenager any more, but still love to go to Knott&#8217;s and now with my family.  However, <strong>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm is not just a local hang-out anymore</strong>. Cedar Fair bought the park from the Knott&#8217;s family owners, and it was the first and last family owned amusement park in the country.  When the big corporate took over, many locals feared it was the end of the local hang-out.  No more local discounts, easy ride lines, and convenience to get in and out of the place.  To my surprise, it couldn&#8217;t be more different.</p>
<p><strong>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm</strong> kept all of the things that the locals loved about it, but made it better than ever. They&#8217;ve added some really great world class rides as well as kept pricing low, and increased their kids area so that the whole family can have fun.  It&#8217;s certainly not the same park that was there when I was a kid, but I think they&#8217;ve done all the right things to not only keep it a Southern California favorite while transforming it into a place that people should make a destination on their stop to the area.</p>
<p>Knott&#8217;s has a whole new edge now and is trying to compete with the big parks.  Currently, they are running an ad campaign the asks if the viewer is a &#8216;ride warrior&#8217;.  They have a series of teenagers stepping up to the camera for closeups with their big roller coasters as the backdrops.  The commercials help show that they have some really great roller coasters that are unlike others around. Rides like Silver Bullet, Ghost Rider, Scream, and what feels like near death the Xcelerator are all riders that make any ride enthusiast come out and see what it&#8217;s all about.</p>
<p>From my own personal experience, it&#8217;s a ride that I would only like to go on once in my lifetime.  I enjoy all of the other rides at <strong>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm</strong> and will ride them over again, but the Xcelerator for me was the best experience that I&#8217;ve ever had on a ride and one that I don&#8217;t care to repeat.  It&#8217;s not that I don&#8217;t like rides, but blasting off from 0-80 in 2 seconds while flying over top a 200 foot peak that descends into a 90 degree drop is unlike any ride that I&#8217;ve been on.  I almost fear the day my 1 year old son asks me to go on it and I&#8217;m looking into the face of a teenager knowing that I&#8217;ve got to save face and go on it again.</p>
<p>The entire park is different today than what it was when I was first going there, and back then it was kind of a local hang-out, but now <strong>Knott&#8217;s Berry Farm is not just a local hang-out.</strong></p>
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		<title>Good Value, Great Quality is Found At Hotel Terrace</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/95-good-value-great-quality-found-at-hotel-terrace.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/95-good-value-great-quality-found-at-hotel-terrace.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:58:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[hotels in orange county]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Orange County]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orange County Airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[orange county hotels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[orange county tournament]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=95</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Orange County is a popular destination for many travelers and fun seekers, and there are a lot of choices to stay when coming into Orange County airport.  However, there may be a little known spot right in the heart of Orange County that has lots some of the best value hotels in area for both [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-96" title="pool_area" src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/pool_area-150x150.jpg" alt="pool_area" width="150" height="150" />Orange Count</strong>y is a popular destination for many travelers and fun seekers, and there are a lot of choices to stay when coming into <strong>Orange County airport</strong>.  However, there may be a little known spot right in the heart of <strong>Orange County</strong> that has lots some of the <strong>best value hotels</strong> in area for both families and business travelers.  The hotels located on Hotel Terrace, just off the 55 Fwy and Dyer Road are some of the best kept secrets in Orange County in terms of value and quality.</p>
<p>Located minutes from the airport, all of the hotels offer a shuttle service to and from, and many are complimentary with room reservations, as well as most offer some sort of shuttle service to the <strong>Disneyland Resort area</strong>. These are some of the few locations in <strong>Orange Count</strong>y where you can get free shuttles to both the airport and the area&#8217;s most popular attraction Disneyland.  This value alone can save families enough money to get a few more souvenirs and things at the park.</p>
<p><strong>Best Western Orange County Airport</strong> is one of the hotels located on Hotel Terrace Drive, and is a 3 diamond hotel that offers not only a complimentary breakfast, but a full breakfast with both hot and cold foods.  Travelers coming into this hotel will be getting one of the best values in Orange County as they are one of the only locations that offers both a <strong>free shuttle</strong> to and from the airport, as well as a <strong>full cook-to-order breakfast</strong> with hot foods.  There quality is top-notch and they have an outdoor atrium style with a nice pool area, fitness room, and jacuzzi, which gives  any traveler all the amenities they could ask for.  <strong>Best Western Orange County Airport meeting center</strong> boast two large meeting rooms that can hold up to 100 people in certain styles, as well as some smaller rooms for meeting and functions that can be booked through their sales department.  A 3 diamond hotel that offers all of this must be expensive, but unbelievable, they are fairly valued around $100 per night or less depending on various discounts for AAA, or corporate travelers, and this makes them one <strong>Orange County Travel </strong>most recommended hotels.</p>
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		<title>Stonehill Tavern at St Regis Review</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/81-stonehill-tavern-at-st-regis-review.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/81-stonehill-tavern-at-st-regis-review.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:11:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Newport Beach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Restaurants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[restaurant reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=81</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of going to Stonehill Tavern at St Regis in Monarch Beach, CA a couple of days ago for my anniversary. The experience was way better than expected so I had to write a review about it and share my thoughts with others that are coming in Orange County and looking for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-82 alignleft" title="stonehill_tavern02" src="http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/stonehill_tavern02-150x150.jpg" alt="stonehill_tavern02" width="150" height="150" />I had the pleasure of going to <strong>Stonehill Tavern at St Regis in Monarch Beach, CA</strong> a couple of days ago for my anniversary.  The experience was way better than expected so I had to write a review about it and share my thoughts with others that are coming in Orange County and looking for a great upscale dining experience.</p>
<p>First, the food was really great, but that is expected from a 4 star restaurant so almost nothing to brag about here, but the food was really good, the textures were perfect and everything was spot on.  However, what you don&#8217;t count on when dining is great customer service.  Even an upscale place can have some service issues from time to time, but my high expectations were met, and exceeded, which is a far more than I was counting on.  I would go back again for the service alone, and the fact that the food is out of this world great, it&#8217;s almost a no brainer to recommend it to others.<span id="more-81"></span></p>
<p>A couple of points that I found really noteworthy was the at they provided some samples of the chef&#8217;s creations and we were pleasantly surprised by the exquisite taste that the chef was putting together and sharing with us complimentary.  In addition to the samples, they created a special dish for us because it was our anniversary, which made our night all the more memorable and romantic.  Both my wife and I had one of the best dining experiences we had and will recommend it for both romantics diners, as well as an upscale night life for those that want to enjoy the evening.</p>
<p>They have ocean front views available, and the ambiance is hip, but upscale, and certainly a favorite of the Real Wives of Orange County, and Orange County Travel.</p>
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		<title>Transportation for Groups</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/48-transportation-for-groups.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/48-transportation-for-groups.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:20:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Car and Van Rentals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vacations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group trips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=48</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Booking transportation while traveling is normally difficult just for an individual or family, but for a group it&#8217;s even more problematic and troublesome to manage.  The following are some tips to help with reserving transportation for groups. Please feel free to share these with others, or write us with your own tips and we&#8217;ll include [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Booking transportation while traveling is normally difficult just for an individual or family, but for a group it&#8217;s even more problematic and troublesome to manage.  The following are some tips to help with reserving<strong> transportation for groups.</strong> Please feel free to share these with others, or write us with your own tips and we&#8217;ll include them into our format with comments.</p>
<p><strong>Group Transportation Tips</strong>:</p>
<p>1. Private or Public:  It&#8217;s easy to figure out what would be the primary goal here.  One will save money, and the other is more convenient.  This is the first question to tackle and one that will depend on the audience.</p>
<ul>
<li>Private: If your booking transportation for a group of executives, well then you might want to go with the private transportation.  These would include limos, private shuttle or buses, coach, taxis, or even planes or other types of needs depending on the clientele.  We would recommend a few here but there are so many and depending on your area there would be specialty services designated in that area.  For example, some airports only allow certain taxis or shuttles to pick up in their loading zones, so it&#8217;s always good to check to make sure the one you select is okay to pickup and drop-off.</li>
<li>On the other hand, if your booking a group going to the airport and they are on a budget, then you might want to use the public outlets.  These would include public buses, shuttles, and other forms of transportation like trains, or subways.  One of the larger nationwide airport services is Airport Bus, and they can accommodate a large number on short notice, but it&#8217;s because they are already running 24 hours a day.  If your coming in last minute and need to get a group to or from the airport, this would be the first call I would make.  The other options here would include Super Shuttle, where they can accommodate groups via multiple passenger vans and coordinated rates and times.</li>
</ul>
<p>2. Considerations and Extra Charges:  This bring ups an interesting subject for some groups traveling from outside the US.  Not every country has the same gratuity views and are not always sure on options work best for them.  The key here is to find out every additional charge and in today&#8217;s economy there are lots of extra charges.  If you don&#8217;t know, ask.  You&#8217;ll be much happier knowing upfront versus at the end.  For example, limo services typcially have gratuities between 25 &#8211; 40 %, whereas some public bus services are not even allowed to accept tips.  Private coaches will probably charge for gas, plus time, as well as gratuity for the driver, and if you are traveling overnight, then a room for the driver is also expected.  This means that you must take into account each of these additional charges before making your decision.</p>
<p>3. Support:  This crucial for any group, as if one thing goes wrong, there are a lot of people that are effected.  The best consideration is to go with a company that is reputable and has plenty of back-up options in case something get thrown off.  For example, a group booked two shuttles for a 5am pickup, but then extra people show up and they need an extra van at the last minute.  It would be nice to have one company that can support these needs and get an extra van there to get everyone to their destination on-time.</p>
<p>These considerations, as well as individual needs of any group, will help making sure that the right plans have been made for reserving<strong> transportation for groups</strong>.</p>
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		<title>Group Travel Tips for Group Travel Planning</title>
		<link>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/40-group-travel-tips-for-group-travel-planning.html</link>
		<comments>http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/40-group-travel-tips-for-group-travel-planning.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:26:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>octravel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hotel Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vacations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel planner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group travel specialist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[group trips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[music trips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grouptraveloc.com/travel/?p=40</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Going on a group trip can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work and a big headache for the person trying to put it altogether. Group travel is one of the most tedious and detail oriented tasks that one can embark on when planning a group trip. The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Going on a group trip can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work and a big headache for the person trying to put it altogether.  Group travel is one of the most tedious and detail oriented tasks that one can embark on when planning a group trip.  The reason is that there are a lot of variable involved and a lot of details to think about when planning a trip, making reservations, and confirming itineraries.  The following is some helpful tips and hints when planning a group trip for sports teams, reuninos, family trips, convention planning, and other group travel activities.</p>
<p><strong>Group Travel Tips</strong> &#8211; Each group is unique so no one way is always right 100% of the time and the individual group needs would differ from one vendor to the next.</p>
<p><strong>1. Know your group:</strong> This may sound strange but it&#8217;s very imporant to know exactly what your group needs are, what each person&#8217;s expectation are, and what elements in the group need individual consideration and which items can be group wide decisions.  This one step will help a lot in communication of schedule and itenaries, cut back on confusion, and make the vendors that group is dealing with much more confortable.  This would be everything from knowing who is going to pay for the confirmation, at what dates are payments needed, who the contact person is the for the group as well as each individual account, and what each accounts personal needs are such as smoking or non.</p>
<p><strong>2. Plan ahead: </strong> Sounds easy, but it often becomes of the sticking points with group.  The reason is that many people start to plan ahead, but then get caught up in details rather than the big picture.  Most vendors want some sort of confirmation upfront, and this could either be a deposit or guarantee, and planning ahead isn&#8217;t just making calls, but also getting confirmation on what dates rates would be available, what numbers would need to be meet in order to get discount breaks, and any extra options for advanced booking.  All of these things can make or break a group&#8217;s deal and by planning far enough ahead will give the group time to make a decision without losing the details of what they had due to time deadlines.</p>
<p><strong>3. Confirm, re-comfirm, and confirm again:</strong> I know this may sound tedious and a little over done, but it&#8217;s important to know what you are getting and when you are getting it.  I&#8217;ve seen many times where a group thinks they are getting one thing, but the vendor changed it to something else and never confirmed it with the group and when the group shows up they are shocked.  If they had confirm again they would have been informed about the changes so it&#8217;s important for the group to be on top of their account and not leaving it up to the vendor to be managing it for them.</p>
<p><strong>4. Have a professional do it:</strong> If you are not in the business of planning group trips, then it might be a good idea to use a professional travel agent or group travel planner.  They are very knowledgeable about the process, beneits, and procedures for booking group travel and will get the most possible for the group.  Many travel agents don&#8217;t charge for group travel planning so it&#8217;s good to consults a travel professional when making large number of travel arrangnements.  Often, a good group travel agent will get some comps, additional amenities, or a deeper discounted rate for the group over what the individuals would have gotten on their own.</p>
<p>In short, it&#8217;s good to plan, prepare, and consult an expert when planning a group trip.  Remember, each group is unique and things that a sports team traveling would need may be different than what a reunion group traveling would need.  With all of the various types of group travel, from sports teams to reunions, convention housing to corporate travel, groups have a special need and those requirements should be met to satisfaction.  OC Travel provides group travel planning and would be happy to assist with any group trips that you might be planning.</p>
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