Is dealing with termites yourself an option?

April 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Many people ask whether it is possible to deal with termite issues themselves. If you have a termite problem, or you want to prevent one from happening, it may seem like a good option to try and deal with the issue rather than calling on professionals to help. If you are thinking of doing this it’s worth remembering that dealing with termites is not easy and that if these pests are not handled properly they can cause a lot of damage.

You may feel more comfortable calling a professional like an Aurora exterminator to control your termite problem. If you do decide to try and deal with the issue yourself then you need to know that there are two different methods available to deal with termites; barrier treatments or baits. It is possible to use a combination of both methods.

Using barrier treatments for termites

This type of treatment helps to deal with termites in two ways; it can help prevent termites from entering the structure of your home and it can help to prevent termites that are already in the structure from reaching the soil from which they get the moisture they require. Using a liquid termiticide enables you to treat your property close to any termite infestation you have. The problem with doing so is that you may have to drill through concrete in order to get the solution to where it needs to be.

This can be a difficult task to complete. It’s a lot easier if you can apply a termiticide directly to the area where it is needed. If you have a crawl space around your home then you should be able to do this. It’s worth noting that the barrier treatments you can use to help control termites only last for between five and eight years on average.

Using termite baits

Many people use termite baits as an alternative to barrier treatments; many also use both methods at the same time. Termite baits are placed into the ground with the aim of having termites eat them. Once the termites are attracted to the baits they eat and they are poisoned. It’s fairly simple to lay baits where a colony of termites has been discovered. You can also lay baits in order to keep an eye out for termites around your property. This type of treatment is ideal if you are worried about using pesticides or if you have previously used barrier treatments and been unsuccessful.

If you suspect you may have termites on your property, or if you want to try and prevent a termite infestation, then you can use either of these methods. As you can see there can be issues involved with doing the work yourself and you are certainly not guaranteed to be successful. You should also remember that termites can do a considerable amount of damage to your home if they are not dealt with in the correct manner. Often people find it easier and more successful to hire a professional to deal with a termite problem in their property.

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Simple, Safe Multiplayer in Slither.io

April 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Children love playing video games, but not every game provides a positively ideal experience. As parents, we want our kids to have fun, and we want to worry as little as possible. Slither.io is an easy-to-learn, simple multiplayer game that dodges the many pitfalls of other modern titles.

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Enter a nickname, and move your mouse to play. Within a few seconds, you can enter the competitive world of Slither.io. Loosely based on Agar.io game (which your children might already play), Slither.io puts all players together in one giant arena. Your snake, which starts out small, will follow the mouse cursor. Simply lead the reptile towards glowing pieces of food, and it will grow. Longer snakes are also bigger and move faster. Basically, the more you eat, the better you are.

Slither.io is a great option for both younger and older kids. There aren’t any complex controls to learn, key combos to memorize, or lengthy instructions to read. When the game begins, your snake will start moving. From there, you can choose to slither in a straight line towards food, or try to trap other players with your tail. Advanced players might use their snake’s length to perform quick moves and knock other players out of the game. Whether you choose to play offensively or defensively, you have an equal chance at earning a spot on the leaderboard.

Overall, the graphics in Slither.io game are quite pleasing. The vivid, glowing orbs in Slither.io are offset by a dark background. There aren’t any flashing lights, strobes, or other potentially eye-straining visuals. Unique skins and smooth gameplay keep the experience interesting and enjoyable for hours on end. Best of all, we don’t have to worry about gruesome violence, inappropriate chat room content, or paying for in-game upgrades.

These days, the uncensored Internet can be a very dangerous place with far-reaching consequences. Even seemingly innocent games have chat rooms that allow bullies and strangers to interact directly with others. Slither.io allows no such negativity, and it keeps the action simple. That’s why I recommend Slither.io for kids—and adults, if you’re interested in joining the fun.

Filed Under: gaming Tagged With: , ,

6 Mandatory Guidelines When Storing a Mattress

March 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment

You spend a lot of your time with your mattress, so when it’s time to move or go on a long trip, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to store it properly. Some people think it doesn’t matter how they transport or store their mattresses, but if you don’t take the proper care, you could end up warping or damaging it, rendering it unusable. Here are six mandatory guidelines when storing any mattress.

1. Store in a Cool, Dry Place

A temperature-controlled storage unit is the ideal place to store a mattress if you are moving, going on a trip, or simply not using the mattress anymore at this time. Damp places can cause odors to soak into the materials and damage the mattress surface. Keep it dry and cool.

2. Cover It Up

Before you move your mattress at all, clean it thoroughly with an upholstery cleaner or baking soda (just sprinkle it on, let it sit for an hour, then vacuum it up). After it is cleaned, be sure to cover it by stretching plastic over it or using sheets. Avoid storing your mattress simply as it is. Covering it up will keep out bugs, critters, and dust.

3. Stand the Mattress Up for the Short Term

If you are only storing your mattress temporarily, stand it up. This helps it to retain its shape. Storing it flat on hard ground could cause it to lose its shape thanks to the effects of gravity. Storing it up on its side is ideal.

4. Lay It Flat for the Long Term

If you will be storing the mattress for a long time, then it may be fine to store it flat—but only if you plan on setting up everything. This alleviates much of the damage and gravity effects the mattress is likely to experience in the long term. Ideally, store the mattress up on its side. If you have the space to set up your whole bed frame, then it may be okay to lay it flat on that.

5. Keep Everything Off of Your Mattress

Do not put anything on your mattress while it is in storage. This will damage it over time, and you will be left with a warped, wonky sleeping area. The only thing that should be on your mattress in storage is the protective cover.

6. Transport It Properly

Move your mattress from place to place in a covered moving truck. Transporting it on top of a car, van, or SUV is likely to lead to a warped form, damage, and strange odors. As long as you follow these six essential steps when it comes time to store your mattress, you should be able to keep it in great shape until you’re ready to use it again.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: ,

Craft Delicious Pies at Papa’s Bakeria

March 30, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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Millions of gamers have delighted countless customers at Papa Louie’s restaurants. There have been burger joints, pizza places, and dessert shops. In Papa’s Bakeria, you can join the fun food frenzy with a plethora of tasty pies.

The latest installment in the award-winning management game series, Papa’s Bakeria is bigger and better than its predecessors. In case you’re unfamiliar with the restaurant management genre, the concept is simple: serve customers and earn tips. You might work as a greeter, server, chef, or manager. In some games, your character does it all. Developer Flipline Studios has refined and tweaked this type of gameplay over the course of 12 games in the Papa Louie series.

During your first day on the job at Whiskview Mall’s newest restaurant, you will learn how to take orders, assemble and bake a pie, and decorate the dessert with toppings. Accuracy and efficiency are essential for earning big tips. The overall goal is similar to other games, but Papa’s Bakeria offers a very in-depth experience. There are different types of crusts, fruity fillings, healthy toppings, and sugary extras. Some customers want simple pies, and others order multilayered, one-of-a-kind desserts.

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After completing an order, you will be rated on every aspect of the process. Better rankings equal a bigger tip and weekly paycheck. In the end, more money equals more success. This is due to the excessive amount of upgrades you can purchase for your restaurant. The upgrade menu is filled with nearly 100 pages of boosters, alarms, furniture, and decorations to improve customers’ experiences. If those aren’t enough, you can customize your character with a different hairstyle, body type, and hundreds of facial expressions.

Papa’s Bakeria, play it here, is a fun, well-made game. Each virtual day at the restaurant goes by quickly, as you are always busy taking orders and assembling unique pies. The only potential downside is the sheer amount of available customization, which can be overwhelming to some. Additional entertainment and replay value come from the bonus mini-games, such as Burgerzilla and Slider Escape. These forays into other genres offer a totally different and welcome experience. Overall, Papa’s Bakeria is well-rounded and highly recommended.

Filed Under: gaming Tagged With:

House Monkey Twitter Party! #HouseMonkeyTribe

March 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

House Monkey Twitter Party 3-29-16 at 9p EST RSVP bit.ly/housemonkeyrsvp

Join Blog­gin Mamas & House Monkey as we host the #HouseMonkeyTribe Twit­ter Party on Tuesday, 3–29–16 at 9p EST/6pm PST! We’ll be chat­ting about the new House Monkey app and website.

Date: Tuesday, March 29th, 2016

Time: 9:00–10:00pm EST / 6:00–7:00pm PST

Hash­tag: #HouseMonkeyTribe

Pre­sented by: @monkey_tribe and @BlogginMamas

Mod­er­a­tors: Eng­lish– @HeLoEnterprises Span­ish– @BBabushka

Co-Hosts: @EnzasBargains, @havesippy, @DarciBean, @MamasMission, @MommyPowers

About House Monkey

House Monkey is a home management solution (app & website) to efficiently organize & motivate the tribe living in your home to get everything done! Bring the concept of spending time together and caring for your home back to life with the digital tool perfect for your tribe.

Get 30 days FREE by using code I4dLNT in the coupon code. The coupon code is case sensitive! After 30 days you have the OPTION to get a year’s subscription and pay just $28.99 for the first year.

$28.99 yearly fee includes:

· All standard features of House Monkey – the preferred home management system

· 1G of data for your home used at your discretion (videos, chat, appliance manuals, receipts, etc.)

· Unlimited members in your family’s account

· Access to your account via both the mobile app and the website

· Accessible on any platform (PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, mobile web browser)

· No ads

Tweet­share:

Dur­ing the Twit­ter Party there will be a chance to win one of the fol­low­ing prizes by answer­ing var­i­ous ques­tions about House Monkey. Win­ners will be selected at ran­dom from all eli­gi­ble entries.

Prizes

One (1) prize pack, including a One-Year House Monkey subscription + Stephen Joseph Monkey Backpack and lunch box (ARV $71)

One (1) prize pack, including a One-Year House Monkey subscription + SOZO Cuddle Mat (ARV $84)

One (1) prize pack, including a One-Year House Monkey subscription + Kangovou Stainless Steel Dish Set (winner’s color choice) (ARV $99)

First Prize

One (1) prize pack, including a One-Year House Monkey subscription + Stephen Joseph Critter Table and Chairs set – MONKEY (ARV $109)

Grand Prize

One (1) prize pack, including a One-Year House Monkey subscription + 4 tickets to your local ZOO (ARV $149)

RSVP Prize

One (1) prize pack, including a One-Year House Monkey subscription + SOZO Monkey Hooded Towel (ARV $50)

RSVP Below!!

Terms and Con­di­tions

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.

By RSVP’ing to this event and uti­liz­ing the #HouseMonkeyTribe hash­tag, the atten­dees acknowl­edge hav­ing read and agreed to these terms and con­di­tions.

Twit­ter Party Prize Give­away begins March 29th, 2016 at 9:00 pm ET and ends no later than March 29th, 2016 at 10:30pm ET (the “Twit­ter Chat Entry Period”). Entrants enter via fol­low­ing @monkey_tribe, @HeLoEnterprises & @BlogginMamas, and post­ing a tweet with the #HouseMonkeyTribe hash­tag dur­ing the Twit­ter Chat Entry Period. Five (5) Win­ners will be drawn ran­domly by random.org at approx­i­mately 12 minute inter­vals dur­ing the Twit­ter Party Entry Period. One (1) Win­ner will be drawn ran­domly via random.org from the event RSVP’s on the Mr. Linky wid­get.

Prizes include:

One (1) prize pack, including one (1) One-Year House Monkey subscription + One (1) Stephen Joseph Monkey Backpack and One (1) lunch box Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $71, for one (1) win­ner.

One (1) prize pack, including one (1) One-Year House Monkey subscription + One (1) SOZO Cuddle Mat. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $84, for one (1) win­ner.

One (1) prize pack, including one (1) One-Year House Monkey subscription + One (1) Kangovou Stainless Steel Dish Set (winner’s color choice). Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $99, for one (1) win­ner.

One (1) First Prize pack, including one (1) One-Year House Monkey subscription + One (1) Stephen Joseph Critter Table and Chairs set – MONKEY. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $109, for one (1) win­ner.

One (1) Grand Prize pack, including one (1) One-Year House Monkey subscription + four (4) tickets to winner’s local ZOO of choice. Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $149, for one (1) win­ner.

One (1) RSVP Prize pack, including one (1) One-Year House Monkey subscription + One (1) SOZO Monkey Hooded Towel Total approx­i­mate retail value (“ARV”) $50. One (1) prize pack to be awarded to one (1) win­ner who RSVP’s via the Mr. Linky wid­get.

 

Each win­ner receives one (1) prize pack. Entrants who fail to com­plete said actions will be dis­qual­i­fied and an alter­nate win­ner will be selected from all entrants who entered dur­ing the Twit­ter Party Entry Period. Win­ners will be noti­fied via DM (Direct Mes­sage) on Twit­ter with a request for an email address to send prize claim infor­ma­tion. Win­ners will have 48 hours to reply to the DM with a valid email address. Win­ners will have an addi­tional 48 hours from when prize claim infor­ma­tion is sent, to claim their prize and pro­vide ship­ping info, or a an alter­nate win­ner will be selected from amongst all entries received dur­ing the Twit­ter Party Entry Period. All prizes will be awarded pro­vided they are validly claimed by April 1st at 11:59AM EST.

Entrants agree to release and hold harm­less the Blog­gin’ Mamas, Heather Lopez Enter­prises, LLC, Twit­ter, and any other orga­ni­za­tions respon­si­ble for spon­sor­ing, ful­fill­ing, admin­is­ter­ing, adver­tis­ing or pro­mot­ing this give­away, and their respec­tive par­ent, sub­sidiaries, and affil­i­ates and each of their respec­tive offi­cers, direc­tors, mem­bers, employ­ees, agents and sub­con­trac­tors (col­lec­tively the “Released Par­ties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and lia­bil­ity, includ­ing but not lim­ited to neg­li­gence and dam­ages of any kind to per­sons and prop­erty, includ­ing but not lim­ited to inva­sion of pri­vacy (under appro­pri­a­tion, intru­sion, pub­lic dis­clo­sure of pri­vate facts, false light in the pub­lic eye or other legal the­ory), defama­tion, slan­der, libel, vio­la­tion of right of pub­lic­ity, infringe­ment of trade­mark, copy­right or other intel­lec­tual prop­erty rights, prop­erty dam­age, or death or per­sonal injury aris­ing out of or relat­ing to a participant’s entry, cre­ation of an entry or sub­mis­sion of an entry, par­tic­i­pa­tion in this give­away, accep­tance or use or mis­use of prize. Entrant agrees to indem­nify, defend and hold harm­less the Released Par­ties from and against any and all claims, expenses, and lia­bil­i­ties (includ­ing rea­son­able attorney’s fees) aris­ing out of or relat­ing to an entrant’s par­tic­i­pa­tion in this give­away and/or entrant’s accep­tance, use or mis­use of prize, includ­ing, with­out lim­i­ta­tion, lia­bil­ity for per­sonal injury, dam­age, or loss.

The Released Par­ties make no war­ranties, and hereby dis­claims any and all war­ranties, express or implied, con­cern­ing any prize fur­nished in con­nec­tion with the give­away. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING,SUCH PRIZES ARE PROVIDED“AS IS”WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND THE RELEASED PARTIES HERE BY DISCLAIM ALL SUCH WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Dis­clo­sure: Blog­gin’ Mamas is man­ag­ing this Twit­ter Party. Indi­vid­ual co-hosts are receiv­ing com­pen­sa­tion for their par­tic­i­pa­tion. All prize ful­fill­ment is the respon­si­bil­ity of the spon­sor.

Filed Under: lifestyle items Tagged With: ,

Great American Road Trip Tips You Shouldn’t Ignore

March 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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There is so much to see in America that even mature people still encounter new sights. That is why taking a domestic road trip could be the best choice for your vacations this year. Spain and other European countries might seem exotic, but there’s no need to travel that far. The climate in the South of France is not unlike that in states like Nevada. In truth, temperatures in the US often exceed those recorded in other Western countries. So, do yourself a favor and holiday in America this year. You’ll support the local economy, and you’re guaranteed to love the experience. Just make sure you use the following tips.

Pack clothing for all weather conditions

If you want to travel across the country, you’re going to encounter many different weather patterns. So, it’s wise to prepare for anything you might encounter. Keep some jumpers and jeans in your suitcases alongside those t-shirts and shorts. Make sure you also pack enough underwear and socks for the journey. While you’ll probably have to wash your clothing along the way, it’s nice to have some new briefs. People who plan to take their children should remember coats and boots to ensure they never feel cold. Like it or not, there’s often a strong breeze in the mountains of Montana.

Determine your route and tell someone

Next up, it’s sensible to plan your entire route ahead of time. IOS TripAdvisor and similar tools will make that easier. You can let friends and family members know where they can find you during your journey. If you get into trouble for any reason, they should notice before the situation becomes dangerous. Arrange to call them on specific days from particular locations. They will then know to alert the authorities if your call doesn’t arrive. The other advantage to planning your route is that you can make sure you don’t miss anything interesting. It would be a real shame if you drove through Nevada without visiting the Grand Canyon. However, that might happen if you didn’t research the route before leaving home.

Download some travel apps

There are many good travel apps you can download to your smartphone. TripAdvisor is currently the most popular solution on the market. It’s ideal for those who want to learn more about tourist attractions or accommodation. However, the Shofur Android solution is also making waves at the current time. Applications of that nature allow travelers to book seats on buses anywhere in the country. It’s wise to have something like that on hand for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you never know when your car is going to stop working. Secondly, your smartphone will handle all the hard work and even direct you to the bus stop.

You should now have a good grasp of the actions you need to take during the next few weeks. Failing to prepare for your road trip could mean you run into many different issues. So, take some advice from this page, and but the tips into practice. People who ignore this information are more likely to have negative experiences. That is why I decided to publish an article explaining everything today. With Easter just around the corner, it’s probably not too much time before you get behind the wheel.

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: ,

What You Should Teach Your Kids About Motorcycle Safety

March 17, 2016 by 1 Comment

The only thing many people ever learn about motorcycles is that they’re dangerous. They call helmets “brain buckets.” And they don’t want anything to do with them. While they have never driven a motorcycle, they have seen them driven in an unsafe manner. They have perhaps seen what happens when a ride on a crotch rocket goes horribly wrong.

Against that backdrop of fear and ignorance are your kids who very much want to upgrade from their bicycle to something with a motor attached. From go carts, to dirt bikes, to ATVs, there is a rich tradition of child cyclists in the U.S. In other countries, motorcycles and mopeds are the mainstream form of transportation. Running away from motorcycles as if they were a taboo subject is likely a mistake, especially with teens. Instead, here are some things you could teach them about motorcycle safety:

Visibility Is More Than Half the Battle

Being visible is one of the most important things you can do when driving a motorcycle. To drivers of four-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles are practically invisible. Compared to cars, there are just not that many motorcycles on the road. Because people don’t expect to see them, they don’t.

There is also a bit of psychology going on with the motorcyclist. Their visibility is better than ever. They have no blind spots. They can see everything from every angle. With their increased visibility, they assume that everyone can see everything in an equally unobstructed manner. As it happens, this is a fatally flawed illusion.

A motorcycle accident attorney like Michael Pines knows the importance of making one’s self visible. From his site:

Unfortunately, car accidents involving motorcycles occur almost every day in San Diego County. Nationally, there are over 4,000 fatal motorcycle accidents that occur annually according to reports at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of these accidents, nearly 75 percent involve another automobile.

One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in San Diego is the other driver’s failure to see the motorcycle.

It is a given that you can see the other cars. Your safety on a motorcycle is largely based on how well the drivers of the other cars can see you.

Treat It Like a Car

You do not ride a motorcycle as if it were a horse or a carnival ride. You drive it as if it were a car. A motorcycle is every bit a motor vehicle that belongs on the open road as much as any other vehicle. In most states, you have to have a driver’s license for a car before you can even apply for a motorcycle license.

Besides the expectations of other drivers, one of the reasons motorcyclists are invisible to other drivers until the last moment is that they are able to dart in and out of traffic in ways that larger vehicles can’t. A motorcycle can hide in the blindspot and more easily become invisible to drivers who are not taking the utmost care. By driving a motorcycle in the same way as you drive a car, you can avoid the outcomes of those who drive it like a stunt vehicle.

The Key to Safety Is Good Judgement

The same accident report above mentioned that less than half of motorcyclists who suffered serious injury were wearing a helmet. Of the possible serious injuries, concussion is the least of them. It is clearly poor judgement to get on a motorcycle as driver or passenger without a suitable helmet.

Good judgement will also inform you that black leather jacket is not nearly as important as being highly visible in that bright, neon orange. When it comes to vehicle color, you might want to take lime green for a spin.

Drive in the left edge of the lane for maximum visibility. Don’t sneak up on cars by weaving in and out of traffic just because you can. Don’t drive faster than traffic. Don’t drive in the rain. Pull over some place safe and wait it out. These are not laws, but good judgements. At the end of the day, what you have to teach your kids is good judgement. Whether it is motorcycles or choosing their friends, good judgement is what will keep them alive and well.

Filed Under: safety Tagged With:

Why Dubai Is One Of The Most Popular Destinations For 2016

March 16, 2016 by 1 Comment

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If you’re thinking of a great family vacation for 2016, you may not have considered Dubai. As a family vacation destination, it provides so much. If you’re willing to take the kids on a plane and visit somewhere new, then Dubai may be the perfect vacation hot spot for you.

Dubai is growing all the time. New buildings and properties are springing up in record time as more and more people realise the value of being here. In just a few years, Dubai has become a vacation hot spot, from almost nothing. Sure, there is a lot of money here. And yes, some things may be quite expensive. But if you’re looking for an experience that can’t be matched, you may just find it here.

Many tourists come here to spoil themselves. Luxury and fine things are both big business in Dubai. You’ll find gold toys, and diamond encrusted cars. There are plenty of celebrities here buying them too. But Dubai also offers an incredible itinerary for families with children too. The Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark is a firm favorite for a great day out. And if the sun is too much, you can find even more great activities indoors.

There are aquariums, ski slopes and trampoline centers to enjoy. And if you fancy something lazy to do, there is always plenty of space on the beach. There are beach clubs to suit all ages, and plenty of indoor venues just along from the main parades when you need to get out of the heat for a while.

You are also spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation. You can stay in an Islamic hotel and enjoy the full Halal experience. There are luxury hotels or private villas to choose from too. Dubai has become a very metropolitan destination. You can find accommodation and activities that will suit every family, whatever your background.

Getting to Dubai can be quite tiring especially for the kids. When you arrive, it might be easier to book a driver to take you from the airport back to your accommodation. This means you can start your vacation right way and relax. And if it’s relaxation that you’re looking for, you are spoilt for choice in Dubai. There are dozens of highly rated spas, or you can enjoy a comfortable stroll through the old towns.

Shopping is high on the agenda of most tourists that come here. But you don’t have to visit the expensive boutiques. Instead, you can find some charming local stores selling delightful items in the traditional styles. They can make great souvenirs, and they provide a lot of interest while you are here. There are also many great places to dine. You can enjoy a wealth of worldwide dishes, or sample something a little more local.

A vacation in Dubai provides everything you might be looking for. You can relax or be active and sporty. You can bathe in luxury with shopping or pampering spa treatments. And best of all, you can witness some of the most incredible real estate ever built. So why not come and enjoy the view from the Burj Khalifa?

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: ,