<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51601678.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
Planning to sleep with fishes? This is not as crazy and bizarre as it sounds. Luxurious hotel chains around the world have spent millions of dollars in making it true. They will let you indulge in the most lavish underwater experiences ever. You can now, not only dine with the fishes, but also go deep sea diving. They are the perfect destinations for a family trip as well as to celebrate your honeymoon. The rooms are made of glass walls and you will have a 24x7 view of the colourful underwater habitat. It is as thrilling as it sounds. 
 
Take a look at these and plan your next trip! 
 
(Image credits: reuters)

5 luxurious underwater hotels around the world

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/26785040.cms" /> The year 2013 is on its way out but are we really planning a blast to ring in the New Year? The good news is – Indians are still undeterred by the falling <keyword id="6355302" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rupee">rupee</keyword> and looking forward to outbound travel in the coming holidays, just like they did this summer. But the way they travel is definitely changing, according to a senior executive of a Delhi-based <keyword id="6607315" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="OTA">OTA</keyword>. Overseas travel no longer means the ritual rush through <keyword id="6357117" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="bangkok">Bangkok</keyword> or <keyword id="6356662" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Singapore">Singapore</keyword> – the global destinations closest to home and perhaps the least expensive. Of course, these places are not yet marked off the list, but the experienced and the well-heeled seem to have caught the travel bug of a different kind. 
 <keyword id="1960912" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Offbeat-destinations">Offbeat destinations</keyword> are getting increasingly popular among Indians, says Saurabh Srivastava, vice-president (marketing &amp; product strategy) at ixigo.com, a travel planning site and search engine that aggregates and curates travel information to help consumers. 
 “Of the 2.5 million visitors coming to our site month on month, we see some very clear and emerging trends. While the <keyword id="1960914" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Regular-overseas-travellers">regular overseas travellers</keyword> are increasingly looking at offbeat destinations to try out something different, first-timers or those who haven’t ventured outside the country too much, are still looking at <keyword id="1960915" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Popular-destinations">popular destinations</keyword> like Bangkok, Singapore, <keyword id="8695" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword> and <keyword id="6355478" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Australia">Australia</keyword> – the main attractions being <keyword id="6396451" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="beaches">beaches</keyword>, <keyword id="60543" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Water-sports">water sports</keyword> and <keyword id="6368952" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="shopping">shopping</keyword>,” he observes. 
 We have talked to a number of <keyword id="722880" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel-agencies">travel agencies</keyword> and rounded up 12 out-of-the-ordinary (but up and coming) places that people are closely following (and booking) these holidays. Here is a quick look at each of them with a glimpse of the local flavour and the basic cost per person on a twin-sharing basis. However, costs are only indicative and are bound to change, depending on your <keyword id="472754" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tour-schedule">tour schedule</keyword>, quality of <keyword id="6358762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Package">package</keyword>, customisation and service provider. Also, prices may fluctuate as dates get closer. 
 Try planning a holiday if you love these destinations too. Just remember, sometimes, the best travel happens farthest from <keyword id="823132" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="home-and-away">home and away</keyword> from your everyday ambience. Catch the sun on a <keyword id="1553372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="foreign-soil">foreign soil</keyword> this New Year and bon voyage!

Want To Vacation Abroad? These 12 Places Are Creating The
Buzz These Holidays

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/52a062fdecad04a77f6381a5-1058-793/polar-bear-swimming.png?maxX=480" border="0" alt="polar bear swimming" width="480" />REUTERS/ Regis DuvignauA polar bear swims underwater at the family-owned Palmyre Zoo in the Charente Maritime region of western France.</div></div>Good morning. Here's what you need to know.
<ul>
<li>Asian markets fell in overnight trading. Japan's Nikkei was down 1.50%, Korea's KOSPI dropped 0.10%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.07%. European markets were mixed, as were U.S. futures.</li>
<li>Bitcoin - the digital currency very much in vogue right now - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bitcoin-falls-after-china-warning-2013-12">crashed 30%</a> this morning after China instructed its banks not to handle it. The cryptocurrency has been on an absolute hot streak lately, but today plunged from a high of $1,240 to a low of $870. And Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan raised eyebrows yesterday when he <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alan-greenspan-bitcoin-comment-reaction-2013-12">identified Bitcoin as a bubble</a>. People snarked at the comment, seeing as Greenspan kind of "missed" the whole housing and dot-com bubble thing when he was in charge.</li>
<li>At 8:30 a.m. ET, we'll get data on U.S. GDP. Economists estimate a 3.0% print from 2.8% prior, with personal consumption growth holding at 1.5%. "Roughly $23 billion in additional inventory building last quarter relative to what the Commerce Department had assumed will push GDP growth up to +3.2% compared to an initially reported +2.8% figure," Deutsche Bank's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/monday-scouting-report-dec-2-2013-2013-11">Joe LaVorgna wrote to clients</a>. "Importantly, there is little evidence thus far in the quarter that suggests inventories are being unwound. In fact, the inventory subcomponent of the Chicago purchasing managers' index soared 13.1 points to 61.1 in November, the highest reading since October 2006. Consequently, we expect further incremental inventory building this quarter, which is why we see growth above 3%."</li>
<li>At the same time, we'll get weekly initial jobless claims. Economists predict claims climbed to 323,000 from 316,000 a week ago. "Jobless claims have bounced around a bit in November," UBS's Kevin Cummins wrote clients. "Some of the volatility likely reflects the timing of Veterans Day. The upcoming report is also subject to some heightened volatility as it will cover the Thanksgiving holiday."</li>
<li>The Bank of England and European Central Bank will both announce this morning whether they are increasing, decreasing, or maintaining interest rates. Economists expect the BOE to hold the key overnight borrowing interest rate at 0.50% and the ECB to maintain its rate of 0.25% (last month, the ECB surprised pretty much everybody by cutting the rate). ECB President Mario Draghi will hold a press conference after the announcement.</li>
<li>The BOE decision comes right after UK chancellor George Osborne announced <a href="http://on.ft.com/1g9jH2j">revised growth figures</a> for the British economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility expects 2013 growth to come in at 1.4% (up from March's 0.6% call) and 2014 growth to be 2.4% (up from 1.8%). Osborne also said the UK will plan on running a budget surplus come 2018.</li>
<li>At 10:00 a.m, new data on factory orders will be released. Economists are looking for a 1.0% drop. "October factory orders likely fell, pulled down primarily by the already reported drop in durable goods," wrote Citi's Peter D'Antonio. "Falling oil prices probably contributed to lower nondurable goods orders and shipments."</li>
<li>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/japan-approves-182-billion-stimulus-2013-12">approved a $182 billion economic aid package</a> meant to yank the country out of deflation, Reuters' Stanley White reports. The bulk of the package, including a jolt of stimulus dollars to combat the planned national sales-tax hike in April, had already been scheduled. The Japanese Cabinet Office said the aid package will add 1% to GDP and create 250,000 jobs, Reuters reported.</li>
<li>Perhaps this bodes well for holiday shopping figures - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/christmas-tree-sales-booming-this-year-2013-12">Christmas tree sales are already through the roof</a> this season. "It appears that while housing is still weakening consumer spending is strengthening on many fronts, from furniture sales to Christmas tree sales," ISI chairman Ed Hyman wrote in a note to clients. In a survey of regional tree farmers and retailers, week 1 sales were at 16%, compared with the week 1 average of 7% from 2010-2012. "Juding by this, you'd better get your tree early," Hyman wrote.</li>
<li>Apple and China Mobile have <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304096104579238832743924434?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories">signed a deal to offer iPhones on its massive network</a>, the Wall Street Journal's Lorraine Luk and Daisuke Wakabayashi report. With over 700 million subscribers, China Mobile is the world's largest carrier. The Journal reports that the iPhone rollout is due to take place later this month.</li>
</ul>

10 Things You Need To Know Before The Opening Bell

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"><html><body><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ee7b54eab8eaab0ba6b04b-1200-924/toddjeff1.png" border="0" alt="Todd_Jeff_1">Out of PrintTodd Lawton and Jeff LeBlanc.</img></div></div></div>T-shirts and tote bags are great for announcing to the world how you feel about almost anything, whether it's politics, music, or your alma mater. But what about the books you love?Todd Lawton and Jeffrey LeBlanc started <a href="http://www.outofprintclothing.com/" target="_blank">Out of Print Clothing</a> to let readers show off classic cover art from books such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "The Great Gatsby." As Lawton explains it, "We wanted to give book lovers the same experience as other people who love superheroes and sports teams. Musicians have merchandise. Superheroes have merchandise. Why not books?"Since its founding in 2010, Out of Print has expanded into selling every kind of literary-themed merchandise imaginable, including smartphone cases and baby onesies. For every product it sells, the company donates one book through the nonprofit <a href="https://www.booksforafrica.org/index.html">Books For Africa</a>. (They've donated millions of books so far.)When Lawton and LeBlanc met as seven-year-olds in Portland, Oregon, their only business experience was holding the occasional yard sale to raise money for soccer uniforms. Lawton laughs, "We got to learn how to price things, though. Handle cash."After LeBlanc moved away in seventh grade, the two friends didn't meet again until 2004, when they were in New York City. By then, LeBlanc had been a consultant at McKinsey and worked for a hedge fund. Lawton was brand manager for Nike. "I think one of the reasons we work so well together is we have complementary skills," says LeBlanc. "Todd comes from a sales and marketing background, and I came from the less interesting world of finance and consulting and operations. Between those two areas, we seem to have the bases covered."Their best-selling line right now is the <a href="http://www.outofprintclothing.com/collections/library" target="_blank">Library Stamp Collection</a> of shirts, designed to look like those old-fashioned library checkout cards. The company has 11 employees, with plans to expand their product lines further.Their favorite books, by the way? Lawton picks "Catch-22," while LeBlanc's favorite is "The Count of Monte Cristo."We interviewed Lawton and LeBlanc as part of our <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/fast-track">Fast Track Q&amp;A series</a>, in which we're asking various small-business owners 11 questions about their professional and personal inspirations. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/fast-track" target="_blank">Read more in the series »</a>Interview conducted by Business Insider Studios and edited for clarity and length.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?Todd Lawton: I basically wanted to be Jacques Cousteau. I had this fascination with things underwater and I wanted to be down there.Jeffrey LeBlanc: I wanted to be a pilot. When I was 5, I flew to Scotland and I actually got to go in the cockpit and handle the controls.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ee7bc3eab8ea920ca6b049-742-556/jeff-and-toddcirca-1984jpg.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff &amp; Todd_circa 1984.JPG">Out of PrintLawton and LeBlanc in 1984.</img></div></div></div>How did you get the idea for your business?Lawton: Obviously we were both fond of books, and we felt like there was a way to make books cooler. They can be a fashion statement and should be a fashion statement. The cover art is some of the best from the 20th century.How did you pick the name for your business?Lawton: We were looking at a lot of covers and they were all out of print, so the name just came to us right away.What's the biggest risk you've taken in your career?LeBlanc: I think for me it was leaving a cushy hedge-fund job. I had no idea what was next.Lawton: I would say moving to New York from Oregon was probably my biggest risk. It was just after college. I had no contacts, no job, and then just decided to come out and figure it out. It was scary coming from somewhere like Portland, Oregon. I remember the first night. It was in 1999, and I was walking around the city. I was like, "Where am I?"What's the strangest request you've ever gotten from a customer?Lawton: A couple of years ago during the holiday time, our busiest time, we had an order come through and in the notes section it said, "Can you please hand-draw a picture of a cat on this package?" We were so far behind on orders, to the point where Jeff and I were actually pitching in at the warehouse to get things out. We sat down there and I forget who did it but someone drew a picture - I think our warehouse manager at the time. It made someone's holiday.What is your greatest talent, professional or otherwise?LeBlanc: I don't know if it's a talent or something else, but I once ran for 24 hours straight in a race.Lawton: I'd say, collectively, Jeff and I have a really positive outlook. And obviously, perseverance.What's the first job you ever had?Lawton: I took care of a neighbor's hamster while they were on vacation. And it got out and I had to go into the hardware store and get one of those live traps and we ended up catching it a few nights later. I moved on to walking dogs after that. They're much easier to track down.LeBlanc: In junior high I was a paperboy and I had to collect money for the paper. The highlight of that job for me was this one elderly lady who would actually give me, as a tip, a coin from her old coin collection. To this day I have them.What's the weirdest job you've ever had?Lawton: Shortly after I moved to New York, I somehow ended up as a coat checker at a restaurant on New Year's Eve. That particular night especially, at the end of a millennium, was the weirdest job I think I've ever had.Which entrepreneur or business personality do you most admire?LeBlanc: For me, I choose Elon Musk, because he's not just building companies, but also industries.Lawton: Growing up in Oregon and having worked at Nike, I would say Phil Knight. In terms of having a passion, pursuing it, and taking it to the point of really changing the world - he's inspiring.If you had a superpower, what would it be?Lawton: I think it would be awesome to breathe underwater, just walk along on the bottom of the ocean. I'll do that. It kind of ties to your first question.LeBlanc: It's funny, my answer also ties to your first question: I would want to fly.What advice would you give to an aspiring small business owner?Lawton: Get an idea or concept out as soon as possible. Don't be afraid to talk about it with people, because that's really how your ideas form. It's how they move forward.LeBlanc: Move as quickly as you can from planning mode to doing mode. It's the best way you can find out if you have something that works. Get your idea out there, and get real feedback from real customers.Lawton: Just come up with something. It doesn't have to be perfect. You'll know pretty soon if it doesn't work, and you keep constantly changing, growing.<a href="https://sparkbusinessiq.com/article/corporate-america-to-entrepreneurship/" target="_blank">Learn more about how Todd Lawton and Jeffrey LeBlanc achieved their financial goals</a>.This post is sponsored by <a href="http://www.capitalone.com/small-business/" target="_blank">Spark Business℠ from Capital One®</a>.Find out <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sponsor-posts">more about Sponsored Content</a>.</body></html>

2 childhood friends turned their love of reading into a hugely successful T-shirt company

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You Searched For "underwater holiday packages" and got 5 results

5 luxurious underwater hotels around the world

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