Hotels

The Liberty Hotel Lobby

Are you planning a girls’ getaway with your friends this winter? The Liberty Hotel, a new luxury hotel located in historic Beacon Hill, Boston, is offering a Pretty Woman Shopping Package, perfect for a fun shopping excursion!

The Pretty Woman Shopping Package at the Liberty Hotel includes the following:

• Deluxe overnight accommodations
• Breakfast for two at CLINK, one of the hotel’s on-site restaurants
• An appointment with a private shopping consultant at Saks Fifth Avenue in the nearby Shops at Prudential Center
• Savings certificate toward your purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue
• Cosmetics touch-up after your shopping trip

This package is available on an ongoing basis, based upon availability.

The Liberty Hotel, located in the former Charles Street Jail, opened in 2007 as a luxury hotel.  Guest can enjoy a variety of amenities including concierge service, complimentary high-speed internet access (both wired and WiFi), HD LCD TVs, 24-hour in-room dining, evening turndown service, a 24-hour fitness center, valet parking, and complimentary overnight shoeshines. In season, complimentary bicycles are available to borrow.  The Liberty Hotel also offers three dining locations, including CLINK (where you can dine in old jail cells), Alibi (the old drunk tank of the Charles Street Jail), and Scamp, as well as an upscale lobby bar and an outdoor patio (only open in the summer).

The Liberty Hotel
215 Charles Street
Boston, MA
617-224-4000

Photo credit: The Liberty Hotel

Ever wonder how those high rise luxury hotels in your favorite big cities are built?  Check out the time lapse video recording construction on the new Loews Atlanta Hotel.

The new Loews Atlanta Hotel opens in the Atlanta’s Midtown arts district  on April 1st, 2010 and promises to offer a great view from every room.

Loews Atlanta Hotel will feature 414 guest rooms when it’s completed, including 44 suites.  Each room will be equipped with a 37” HD flat-screen TV, 300-thread-count cotton linens and a plush “Ultimate Doeskin” robe.   Guests will also have access to in-room wireless Internet and wireless phones.

The new luxury hotel is looking to attract upscale business travelers with an emphasis on tech amenities like a wireless lobby bar.  In addition to Internet access, the Loews Atlanta Hotel will have 24,000 square feet of “function space” available, estimating that it can host groups of as many as 1,580 people. Of course, it wouldn’t be a luxury hotel without a state of the art fitness center, spa and on site dining, all of which will be available under the Loews Atlanta Hotel’s roof.

While the doors won’t open to guests until April, you can check in on the progress of the Midtown hotel (and check out current Atlanta weather conditions) via webcam.

(video courtesy of OxBlue)

Spending the night in a hotel before your flight might help you save money at the airport.

Airport parking is expensive.  Long term parking can cost as much as $25 per day at airports in major cities like Chicago, which would add an extra $175 to your budget for a week long vacation.

Granted, you could always ask a friend to drive you to the airport and pick you up when you return home, but that’s difficult to do if you live an hour or more away from your nearest airport.  You could find an off site lot and pay a little less, but you’re still looking at $5-$10 a day plus an extra shuttle ride back to your car after you get home.

Another option may be to check into a nearby airport hotel.  Many airport hotels offer free parking with an overnight stay and free shuttle rides to and from the airport.  If you have an early morning flight, spending the night at a conveniently located hotel the night before can also give you a couple of extra hours of sleep and reduce the risk of you missing your flight due to unexpected traffic delays.  If your return flight is scheduled to land late in the evening, you may be able to get free parking in advance of an end-of-trip overnight stay.

Of course, if you’re looking to save money on parking fees by spending the night in a hotel, you’ll want to check that the hotel doesn’t charge for guest parking.  Look around for hotels near the airport you’ll be flying out of and call to confirm their parking rates and shuttle availability.

Photo credit lrargerich on Flickr.

In their Jan 2010 issue, Travel + Leisure has neat categorized listings of the top 500 hotels on earth. Bushmans Kloof in Cedar Mountains Wilderness Area, South Africa  – a wildnerness reserve and retreat, was voted as the World’s best hotel.

Travel + Leisure - World's Best 500 hotels

Bushmans Kloof is about 270 kms from Cape Town, and offers a full-service hideaway with a wellness focus and a predator free sanctuary to endangered species, with 130 Bushman rock art sites and one of South Africa’s Natural Heritage Sites.  The accomodations include 13 rooms and 3 suites. 

There’s also 3 restaurants and 1 bar. For a maximum of 32 guests… Gives a new meaning to personalized service. Which is why it costs $715, all-inclusive.

The second best hotel in the world, as per T+L, is the Oberoi Vanyavilas in Rajasthan, India. At No.3 on the list is Jade Mountain in St. Lucia.

The best hotel in the US was the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, in Bluffton, SC. The No. 1 hotel in California was the London West Hollywood, while The Carlyle topped the list of hotels in New York.

Check out Travel + Leisure’s full list of 2010’s 500 best hotels here – www.travelandleisure.com/tl500/2010

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After five years of design and construction, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe opened last week in the midst of 30 inches of fresh snowfall. What might be a hindrance for some hotel grand openings was a welcome sight for the Ritz-Carlton, which describes the resort as “the finest ski-in, ski-out experience in California if not all the world.”

Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe is the first new resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades. Anticipated to be the premier northern California contemporary mountain retreat, the $300 million project, situated mid-mountain in the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area will feature ski-in, ski-out access with mountain concierge services. Read More »

Brussels Belgium

Ah,  Belgium. The beer, the chocolate, the scenery, the lovely people. If you haven’t been, you should go soon, even if the Euro is beating up the dollar a little bit! It’s a gorgeous, friendly country with much to recommend if you love art, beer, french fries, waffles and chocolate. Here are some wonderful hotels in two of Belgium’s most charming cities.

Brussels

The capital city is a bustling center of commerce, with many things to see and do! A large number of hotels to choose from in all price ranges. Here are some to get you started.

1. Sofitel Brussels Europe

At the center of the European quarter, a very classy and quite expensive hotel. Many attractions are nearby.

2. Radisson Blu

Another pricey one, with an Art Deco Motif, that’s close to all the action. Service is second to none.

3. be Manos

60 rooms, close to the Eurostar terminal. Awesome design on the inside.

4. Chambre en Ville

This charming hotel is a converted 19th century house. There are only 4 rooms and a studio if you are staying for more than 15 days. It’s only a 15 minute walk from many museums and is quite inexpensive at around $90/night.

5. NH Stepahie

This is a well-equipped business hotel only five minutes from the city center. Rooms run about $90/night.

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges

Bruges is in the Northwest corner of Belgium. It’s the capital and largest city of West Flanders in Belgium’s Flemish region. It’s an astonishingly beautiful and quaint city, Truly, the city resembles those perfectly painted little miniature houses you can buy at Christmastime, and indeed, when you walk around the city, you will see painters meticulously touching up the paint on all the buildings.

1. Hotel Fevery

This hotel is certainly not as grand as some of Bruges’ most expensive hotels, like the ridiculous  Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce (if you have the means, you absolutely must stay there), but it has a nice location. It’s only a few minutes walk from the main Market Square and from the Grand Canal. They serve local beers at the hotel!

2. Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

Since I mentioned it already…might as well discuss it. This boutique hotel is at least $250/night, and some rooms are almost $600/night,  but it without doubt one of the most gorgeous and romantic hotels I ever set foot in (and that’s all I did – walked in and looked around).

3. Adornes Hotel

Lovely location right on the canal, and the pretty pinks and yellows of the facades make me smile. There are 20 modestly appointed rooms, but they are all very comfy. The Continental breakfast here is, of course, better than anything you’ll find at US hotels.

4. Hotel Ter Duinen

You will never forget the Royal Breakfast buffet here. The hotel is situated on one of Bruges’ most beautiful canals.

5. Flanders Hotel

This charming hotel is truly close to everything. There’s a pool, a wonderful breakfast, and it’s a hotel that might be more suited to Americans than some of the others because it has more of an “American” feel to it – it’s hard to pinpoint. Beautiful sculptured gardens.

Photos: Wolfgang Staudt, Amanito

New Year’s Eve is less than a fortnight away, and date-crazy hotels have let loose a flood of $20.10 new year specials. Here’s some of these $20.10 hotel specials listed below, with more to be added as and when they pop up in between now and the year end.

$20.10 hotel specials

Hotel Griffon, San Francisco – Stay any Thursday, Friday or Saturday night during the month of January 2010 including New Year’s Eve and receive the second night for only $20.10 at this stylish Embarcadero waterfront hotel.

Hotel Urbano, Miami – Artsy new boutique hotel in Miami is offering first night’s stay at a $20.10 rate during January 2010.

Westin, Virginia Beach – The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center is offering overnight accommodations for $155 on New Year’s Eve (Thursday), with the next two nights (Friday – Saturday) for $20.10 per night.

Country Inn & Suites Chicago O’Hare NW – $99.00 for NYE and stay Jan 1 for $20.10. Includes complimentary bottle of champagne, free shuttle to your New Year’s Eve banquet and complimentary continental breakfast on New Year’s Day.

Radisson Hotel Gateway Seattle-Tacoma Airport – Receive $20.10 off your room rate for stays in-between December 18, 2009 to January 9, 2010.

Inn by the Bay, Dildo, Newfoundland, Canada – This Dildo inn is offering a ‘Celebrate Cupids 2010 for $20.10′ package.

Renaissance Boston - New Year’s Eve Beantown Bonus special offers overnight accomodations & dinner on Dec 31, breakfast on New Year’s Day, 4 pm late check-out and a $20.10 gift card to Starbucks.

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Casa Mateo

Mexico’s state of Querétaro is an ideal place to escape the hustle-bustle of life at home. With vineyards, eco-camps, archaeological sites and colonial architecture, there’s plenty to choose from, and there are few crowds. And in the charming town of Bernal, the Casa Mateo is the place you want to be to take it all in.

Just 34 miles from the capital city of Querétaro (its official name is Santiago de Querétaro), Bernal is known as a Magic Town—a designation by the Mexican government recognizing a town’s extraordinary culture and natural heritage. The massive Peña de Bernal, a rocky monolith, looms over the colorful village.

The Casa Mateo, a boutique hotel with nine rooms, is on a quiet street in the center of town—just a block from the central plaza. The rooms on the top floor have stunning views of the town and the Peña de Bernal. All rooms have stylish modern décor (plus flat screen TVs), but make use of the building’s beautiful old stone walls as well.
Read More »

Put your plans for the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus on ice. The new hot-spot for winter games in Athens is the Marriott Ledra Hotel. To be specific, the rooftop ice skating rink next to and operated by the Athens Marriott Ledra.

Marriott Ledra, Athens

From now through the end of February, you can skate for free and warm up with the seasonal drinks and food catered by the hotel while enjoying the sweeping view of Athens below.

Located atop the Star City Cinema complex beside the hotel, the 200 square meter rink allows skaters to take a spin on the ice from 11 a.m., through 11 p.m. daily.

If you still pine for the ancient Acropolis and Parthenon, the hotel offers a two-night “Explore the New Acropolis Museum” package, with two complimentary tickets to the new Acropolis Museum, and a free hotel shuttle. Use promo code M11.

The hotel’s 308 guest rooms and 6 suites are spread over 8 floors overlooking the Acropolis, just minutes from the Plaka, Piraeus Port and the New Acropolis museum. There’s also a rooftop pool and a 24-hour fitness center.

After a hard day tramping around Athens paying your respects to the Greek Gods and Goddesses, you can come back to your hotel to enjoy a Mediterranean or Greek dinner at Zephyros Restaurant or indulge in Polynesian cuisine and fresh sushi at Kona Kai.

Photo courtesy Marriott International

Info: 115 Syngrou Avenue  Athens, 11745 Greece; Tel: 30-210-9300000; www.athensmarriott.com/

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Comfort Inn Buena Vista, Florida

Just for Florida and Georgia residents, the Rosen family of hotels is offering their low-cost, high-quality hotels as a respite for your shopping excursion to Orlando.

They’re offering $39.99 per night rates now through the end of January 2010 (some blackout dates apply) with a VIP coupon book from Orlando Premium Outlets as well as an Orlan-Dough Mega-Value coupon book with more than $3000 money-saving offers.

Hotels on International Drive and in Lake Buena Vista (near Walt Disney World) in their “Shop and Stay Package” include:

Quality Inn International
Rodeway Inn International
Quality Inn Plaza
Comfort Inn Buena Vista

Stay in one of these hotels, and leave your car parked. The I-Ride Trolley will take you up and down International Drive in an air-conditioned trolley to all of the restaurants and shopping destinations and back to your hotel for $4/day. Guest rooms at each hotel feature a kitchenette area with a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker, cable TV with Showtime®, and complimentary high-speed Internet access.

Photo courtesy Rosen Hotels