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

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

Southern Snow - Yes, it Snows in the South!

I found this article, by the AJC (Atlanta Journal Constitution) interesting because I live in the South and I really want to hit the slopes this year! The article makes a good point – while the West may have more and bigger mountains and ski ares, there are plenty of ski areas and ski hotels and lodges to choose from here in the South – and yes, it most definitely does snow. Check them out!

1. Smokey Shadow Lodge, North Carolina

You’ll stay in a rustic looking, historic lodge made out of stones and logs that’s close to the Cataloochee Ski Area, one of the most popular in the region. Rates are $75-$135 depending on type of room and the season.

2. Sydney James Mountain Lodge, Tennessee

It’s family-owned and situated near a pretty stream near downtown Gatlinburg. You’ll be very close to the Ober-Gatlinburg Ski Area – and this is the closest ski area to Atlanta.

3. Chestnut Ridge Country Inn, West Virginia

This hotel is close to the famous Snowshoe Mountain Ski Area in West Virginia – it features the largest vertical drop in the region! The inn itself is perfectly situated – close to skiing and close to town and other attractions.

4. The Azalea Inn – North Carolina

It’s cute, comfortable, highly rated and the closes B&B to Sugar Mountain, which offers 20 slopes for all types of skiers. What more do you need?

5. The Log Cabin Motor Court

It’s only 5 miles away from downtown Asheville’s many shops, restaurants, cafes and antique shops. You can go night skiing at nearby Wolf Ridge.

The Broadway Hotel & Hostel in New York’s Upper West Side has been shut down by the City for packing in too many people. Hundreds of budget travelers staying at the hotel now have 24 hours to get out and find another place to stay.

Broadway Hotel & Hostel, NYC

The City’s Department of Buildings slapped ‘Vacate: Do Not Enter’ notices on the hotel, which packs in over 400 people in bunk beds and rooms in an building on the corner of Broadway and W. 101st St.

Every single guest at the hotel is a visitor to New York, since the hotel apparently does not allow New Yorkers to stay.

On the hotel’s website it says they offer more than 400 beds, in newly renovated dormitory-style rooms and private rooms at rates as low as $19. Private rooms with private baths start at $159 a night.

They call themselves a ’Manhattan discount hotel that rivals the best hostels in Europe.’

The Hotel is owned by Hank Freid, who also owns other hotels in New York, including the Ameritania in Midtown, and Marrakech Hotel NYC in the Upper West Side.

Freid is also developing a four-and-a-half-star lifestyle hotel called Sanctuary in Times Square, with 125 rooms and an exclusive duplex penthouse suite with roof access. The Sanctuary was originally slated to open in Fall 2009, but the opening has now been pushed back to Fall 2010.

Photo courtesy Broadway Hotel & Hostel

Related posts:-
The 10 Worst Hotels In America
Cheap Hotels for New York Visitors
Cheap Hostels in New York City

The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, one of the official Yellowstone National Park hotels, is offering a ‘Room without a Bath’ special – $49 rooms for the winter. The normal rate for these rooms is $85. The special starts Jan 3 and ends on March 8.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone Nat'l Park

Of course, like the name says, they’re rooms without a bath. Shared bathrooms with private showers are available down the hall. Two double beds are included. If the thought of sharing a bath with other smelly mammoths doesn’t exactly make you want to reach for the plastic, then the hotel has other options for the discerning mammoth.  

A mid-range room (with bath) comes for $115 and filthy rich mammoths looking for the best that mammoth dollars can buy can splurge on the $427 suite. 

They also have three winter getaway packages – Frosty Fun, Nordic Heaven and Trail of the Wolf. Rates for these packages – if you choose to be a smelly mammoth without a bath of your own - vary from $100 to $268, based on occupancy and type of package.

Each package also includes Xanterra’s ‘Snow Card’ good for 10% off on meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items.

The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, built on the old parade grounds of Fort Yellowstone, is located 5 miles inside the North Entrance at an elevation of approximately 6200 ft, and is the only place to stay inside Yellowstone which is directly accessible by automobile. Opens for the winter Dec 21, 2009 to March 8, 2010.

Photos by puroticorico; More Info and other options: www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/

Related posts:-
Our Experience at the Old Faithful Inn
The Geysers, Waterfalls, and Other Wonders in Yellowstone Park
KOA Kampground, Yellowstone Park

December, especially the holidays, is notorious for great weather all around Florida. Below is a list of some of the best hotel deals and specials from across the state.

Orlando
Buena Vista Suites
1-800-537-7737
ONE-BEDROOM SUITE SPECIAL – Rates from $89.95 for December 2009
FLORIDA RESIDENT SUITE SPECIAL – Rates from $80.95 for December 1-24, 2009

Nick Hotel
866-377-0314 & ask for CVB 3rd night free w/ $75 resort credit
Stay two nights, get the third night FREE – $75 resort credit for food and entertainment on property
Book by December 7, 2009. Valid for new reservations only. Stays based on limited availability now – February 11, 2009.

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
(407) 390-6664 (Free for Fall)
From $99/night through Dec. 31, 2009
* Deluxe room accommodations – buy two nights, get the third night free
* Upgrade to premium room based on availability
* Champions 9 – the resort’s lighted, par 3 pitch & putt for two adults
* Phone call from the concierge to assist you with making plans

Read More »

It should come as no surprise that the economy is hitting the travel industry hard.  Hotels all over the country are cutting rates and announcing creative promotions to try to lure in more guests.  It’s crucial that hotels book rooms, because they don’t get a second chance to fill a guestroom for the night once the sun comes up.

As you hunt for holiday travel bargains, be sure to check out 10 cities that are showing the biggest drop in hotel rates.

Top 10 Cities For Hotel Rate Reductions

Houston, Texas

1. Houston, Texas

Hotels in Houston showed the biggest drop in room rates from November 2008 to November 2009.  A stay in a 4-star hotel in Houston is averaging just $74 per night right now.

2. Tampa, Florida

Hotels in Tampa actually tied Houston with a 24% rate reduction from last year.  The average rate for a 4-star hotel in Tampa right now is $65 per night, and may include a view of white sandy beaches.

Miami, Florida

3.  Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Ouch.  The Florida travel industry is not doing well with two cities showing up on the price drop list.  A night in Miami will run you a little more than a Tampa stay at $89 per night.

4. Nashville, Tennessee

Thinking of taking a visit to the Grand Ole Opry?  Now might be the perfect time with rooms in 3-star hotels going for $68.

Oahu, Hawaii

5. Oahu, Hawaii

Not even paradise is immune from the wheezing economy.  Room rates in Oahu, Hawaii are down 18% from the same time last year.

6. San Diego, California

San Diego is listed as one of the Top American Cities To Visit, and now it comes at a bargain.  San Diego hotel rates are down 16% to an average price of $72 per night.

view from Mount Bonnell in Austin, Texas

7.  Austin, Texas

Texas joins Florida as a state with double entries on the list.  However Austin seems to be doing a little better than Houston with just a 15% drop in average hotel rates.

8.  Minneapolis, Minnesota

Plan a holiday shopping trip to the Mall of America and you’ll pay an average of $72 per night this year in a Minneapolis hotel.

Phoenix, Arizona

9.  Phoenix, Arizona

With it’s dry heat, Phoenix is a popular destination for northerners looking to escape the winter cold.  But that hasn’t prevented local hotels from cutting rates by 14%.

10.  Las Vegas, Nevada

Save a little money on sin this year.  One night in a 4-star Las Vegas hotel costs an average of $87 right now, 13% less than you would have paid for the same room last November.

Experts are saying that things are looking up for the economy, but the hotel industry has yet to feel the boost.  If you can afford to take advantage of the travel industry’s woes, now might be the time to pounce.

List and date compiled by Hotwire.

Photo credit: eflon, alexdecarvalho, skyseeker, wyscan, kevindooley on Flickr.

Hotel Monteleone

The elegant Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ French Quarter has been run by the Monteleone family since 1886, and is well known for its excellent customer service. It’s extremely convenient—just walking distance from some of New Orleans’ most famous landmarks and attractions.

The Monteleone’s 600 spacious guest rooms and 55 suites include traditional décor, high ceilings, marble and granite bathrooms, comfy robes, coffee makers, high-speed Internet access, large-screen cable TVs and more. Rates start at $209 per night.

One of just three hotels in the Unites States that has been designated a literary landmark, the hotel is featured in the works of Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and Eudora Welty. Looking for a little more excitement? As with many New Orleans hotels in the French Quarter, the Monteleone claims a handful of “permanent residents” in the form of ghosts.

The hotel is one of the few luxury hotels in the state that offer services for your canine best friend, including a mat with water bowls, a bag of treats and a map of pet-friendly spots in the Crescent City.

Read More »

Most of us are on a budget these days, and a tight one at that. So, looking for affordable hotels in San Diego can be quite the challenge. One solution? Try some San Diego hostels. No, they won’t be glamorous, and no, you won’t be waited on hand and foot – but if you don’t mind casual accommodations, you can save a ton of money, money you can spend on San Diego area attractions! You might find a lot of twenty somethings rooming here, but these hostels are for anyone! Here are some suggestions:

Ocean Beach International Hotel

You’ll be right on the beach! Walk to a variety of cute and quirky shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s a pretty inexpensive cab ride to the heart of San Diego. Rates are $65-$85/night depending on the season, and dormitory style rooms are much, much cheaper. (If you want to stay in bunk beds, you’ll only be paying around $20/person)

Ocean Beach, San Diego

USA Hostels San Diego

Located smack in the middle of San Diego’s exciting Gaslamp Quarter in downtown, this hostel offers private rooms for less than $60/night!

USA Hostel in San Diego, California

  Banana Bungalow

This hostel is literally steps away from the sands of Pacific Beach. Free bbqs on Sundays and $1 burgers on Tuesdays! Pacific Beach has an endless number of restaurants and bars to explore.

Pacific Beach, San Diego, California

Photos: Will Palmer, Jason Pratt, Osbornb

Casa Rafael in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

About four years ago, I went to Cabo San Lucas with my best friend Mayda. We had a blast, and we stayed at a lovely, small hotel called Casa Rafael. This charming, quirky hotel is located a very short walk from the beach as well as from the shops along the docks in Cabo. There are only ten rooms, so any problems you experience are quickly taken care of (we only had one, towels were late, but they were brought up to us in about 5 minutes.) There’s a good restaurant on site as well as a piano bar that’s lively on the weekends.

Rooms are comfortable, basic and clean. Tile floors, decent beds, smallish but adequate bathrooms. The best part about this hotel is that you are about a five minute walk from the beach and about ten minutes from the harbor area with some of the more fancy shops – the location was perfect for us.

If you’re a wine lover, you’ll love the wine list at the hotel’s restaurant – there are more than 120 wines and champagnes to choose from!

Pay cash if you can, you’ll get a 10% discount off the already cheap rates. We went during spring, and at the time our room was $85/night, an amazing value! Now it looks like it’s about $100, but believe me, it’s still worth it.

Photo: Jenny Bengen