Travel blog by web-hotels.com

London is renowned for its West End productions, some of which have run for many years. There are a number of theatres in London and many of these launch new productions each year.

There are several ways to buy tickets for any of the musicals available in 2012. This can be by phone to the Theatre Box Office, via online booking agencies, or as part of a package holiday as an optional extra.

Be sure to purchase tickets from reputable agencies, which should be members of STAR (The Society of Ticket Agencies and Retailers) or The Ticket Agents Association. Agencies will charge a booking fee on top of the ticket price.

There are many discounted theatre tickets available from agencies, or if you are prepared to go in person and queue, it is possible to buy last minute tickets for shows that day from the non-profit Leicester Square ticket booth. Do not be tempted by the offer of tickets for popular or sold out shows from touts on the street. Many of these may be counterfeit and are often exorbitantly priced.

Backbeat at the Duke of York Theatre runs until February 2012. It tells the story of The Beatles, from a small time band to the international success they became. Many of the old classic rock and roll songs are featured such as ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘Money’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’.

American Idiot at The Hammersmith Apollo Theatre is about three men who have been friends since childhood. They are trying to work out the meaning of the world post 9/11. Music for the production is by Green Day and the lyrics are by the author Billie Joe Armstrong. The show runs from December 4th until December 9th 2012.

Midnight Tango opens on January 20th 2012 at the Aldwych Theatre, running until March 31st. Created by Strictly Come Dancing Stars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, it is set in downtown Buenos Aires and features the Tango, with all its sensual elegance. For those who love Latin dancing, it will be a must see show.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre will host ‘Ragtime’ from May 18th to early September 2012. Based on a book by Terrance McNally, it features the relationship between three different families. It is said to be a tale of hope and transformation. The music is by Stephen Flaherty and the lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

The Novello Theatre is due to stage ‘Mamma Mia’. It is the emotional tale of a mother and daughter on the night before the daughter’s wedding. Featuring the well loved music and lyrics of Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, with some of the songs sung by Stig Anderson, the production is due to run from 6th of September 2012 until April 2013.

American tap dancer Jerry Travers is set to star in Top Hat, his first West End production. With music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, it will appeal to old and young alike. The film has been adapted for the stage at the Aldwych Theatre from April 19th 2012 and due to run until January 2013.

The iconic sixties songs of Roy Orbison, Eddie Cochrane, Billy Fury, Chuck Berry and The Shadows feature in the production set to run at the Playhouse Theatre from the 7th of January 2012. Dreamboats & Petticoats; the Musical has been put together by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. Bookings are available up to November 24th 2012.

The stage version of another classic, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, is based the tale of a star from the silent movies. Don Lockwood has it all, until the advent of the ‘Talkies’, which change Hollywood forever. The Palace Theatre Production will start on the 4th February 2012 and they are taking bookings up to 29th September 2012.

The Adelphi Theatre will be hosting a production of Sweeney Todd – The Demon of Fleet Street, from March 10th until September 22nd 2012. Sweeney Todd has been falsely imprisoned and on his release, goes on a mission of justice and retribution. Adapted for the stage by Christopher Bond, the music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim.

The Young Vic Theatre will present a musical play called The Suit from May 21st 2012 to June 16th 2012. Based on the book by Can Themba with music by Frank Krwczyk, it is set in 1950, Sophiatown and is about how a cuckolded husband deals with his wife’s infidelity.

Make the most of a city break in London in 2012 by watching one or more of these memorable West End Productions.

Air travel can be anything but enjoyable. When you fly on a traditional airplane, you have to deal with invasive security procedures and the seemingly never-ending queue at the airport. You may also have to keep your cool on the plane, if you get stuck sitting next to a screaming baby or in some other uncomfortable situation. The truth is that flying doesn’t have to be uncomfortable and frustrating. You have other options. One of those options is flying via air charter. When you fly via air charter, you charter a private jet to get you from point A to point B without the stress. Chartering a jet may not be something you’ve ever considered. Few people even know you can do it. As flying on traditional airplanes becomes more unbearable, however, more and more people are switching over to this efficient and comfortable way of flying. Here’s why:

1. When you charter a jet, you don’t have to go through all of the security procedures and hassle at the airport. This is a big plus for many travelers who are outraged by the invasive security measures taken at airports.

2. If you’re running late, the jet won’t leave without you. When you charter a jet, it’s the pilot’s job to get you and your companions to your travel destination. He or she has to wait for you to arrive before taking off.

3. You and your travel companions have the whole jet to yourselves. You don’t have to deal with noisy or rude strangers. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy yourselves in the privacy of your chartered jet!

4. You can bring your pets along and not have to worry about them being uncomfortable. They can ride next to you in a crate, no matter how big they are. On an ordinary plane, your large dog would have to ride with the luggage, away from you and scared.

5. If you experience anxiety while flying, a jet charter provides a more relaxing atmosphere to ease your anxiety. Sometimes the last thing you want to hear as the plane is taking off is the chatter of the passengers around you. Noise can make an anxious flyer feel even more anxious. A jet charter will provide you with just the calm, quiet atmosphere you need to center yourself.

So, consider ditching the airplane and opting for air charter travel next time you fly! 

Relaxing at a hotel, either while on business or vacation can be one of the great pleasures in life. That relaxation can be broken upon waking up one morning to find itchy bite marks on the body. While bed bugs are normally associated with cluttered or dirty living areas, they are not discriminatory and can be found just about anywhere. As traveling long distances has become easier, the spread of the pests has become more of a problem. With a few simple counter measures, that peace of mind can still be had upon arrival and throughout the entire trip.

When staying at a hotel, perform these simple steps:

*Before picking a place to stay, look for online reviews that might indicate any previous problems. If customers have experienced an infestation in the past, they likely will not be shy about letting it be known.

*Take a survey of the room and look for signs of an infestation. This includes small, rust-colored spots on bedding, on mattresses and around the bed. A sweet, moldy odor can also signal a problem with bed bugs.

*Lift the bed and look for potential hiding spots for the pests. Be sure to look under the mattress, bed frame, headboard and furniture, especially those that are upholstered. While the bugs normally come out at night to feed, they can be found within a five feet radius of the bed during the day.

*Keep luggage off the floor while performing the search. If there is a problem, the bugs could get into the baggage before being noticed and then be taken to the next location. Find a luggage rack or table away from the walls and place the bags there. It’s important to keep belongings away from the walls because the bugs could be hiding behind framed artwork or pictures.

*If any evidence of bed bugs is found, immediately leave the room with bags in tow and inform the front desk. Ask for another room, or a refund, and then find another place to stay.

*When preparing to leave, carefully inspect the clothing as it is repacked. Once back home, never put the luggage on the bed and store it as far away from the bedroom as possible.

*Throw clothes in the dryer and turn it on the highest setting possible for at least 15 minutes in order to kill any bugs that may have somehow found their way back.

*If traveling by plane or bus to the hotel, luggage in a common compartment could be susceptible to an infestation from someone else’s bags. Bed bugs will migrate from one bag to another. To prevent this, use large plastic bags to wrap around baggage.

Staying in a hotel is meant to be a relaxing experience. It will be, as long as the proper precautions are taken to make sure that peace of mind is not interrupted.
Author Karen Barnes writes for Bed Bugs.org, a website that has loads of information about controlling bed bugs and the precautions you can take to avoid being bitten.