Hotels

The first thing I noticed upon walked into my oceanfront room at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Miami Beach was the temperature. It was freezing!  No wonder – when I checked the thermostat it had been cranked down to 50 degrees, probably by housekeepers when they were cleaning the room. I reset it to 72 degrees, then stepped to the window. Nine floors below, the hotel’s lush grounds and pool spread out before me. Beyond a low hedge of Seagrape, an aquamarine ocean softly lapped on the shore and sparkled in the sunshine like a billion tiny jewels. Spectacular!

View from the Holiday Inn Oceanfront in Miami Beach

I could hardly wait to explore the art deco architecture, gorgeous beaches, art galleries and nightlife, but first I needed food. Hoping to salvage enough of the afternoon for a walk on the beach, I crossed the sunny, tropically decorated lobby to the hotel’s Paradise Cafe Restaurant and grabbed a quick bite to eat. It turned out to be the best meal of the entire weekend – quite amazing considering the hundreds of gourmet restaurants in the area. 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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Two New Hotel Indigos to Open in Atlanta, Georgia

Cheers! One of my favorite hotel chains, Hotel Indigo has been busy! I just found out that, even though Atlanta already has one Midtown location, (and a lovely one at that), the chain is opening up two new ones. The first will open up  on Ellis Street in downtown (formerly the Carnegie building). The hotel, like other Hotel Indigos, will sport wall murals in the guest rooms that change every four years, an ever-changing background in the lobby areas and even music and lovely scents that change with and match the season (think cinnamon in fall and spruce and pine in winter!).

The chain is also opening a Hotel Indigo College Park near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. This particular hotel will feature a more retro look. It will be conveniently located one block from the College Park Marta station, and it will apparently be the closest hotel to the airport.

Let’s hope the economy doesn’t prolong the opening of either of these hotels! I’ve always found the staff the be very friendly, the rooms to be clean and very comfortably furnished and the overall decor to be very relaxing and welcoming. Probably because the hotels are constructed around the idea of the Golden Mean, or perfect proportion – if you don’t believe me, visit one of the (new!) hotels yourself.

Photo: MikeShinkel

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 aptly named Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel in London is offering a movie package with tickets to the new Sherlock Holmes blockbuster starring Robert Downey Jr., Rachel McAdams and Jude Law, which hits cinemas in the UK on Boxing Day.

Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes London

The Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes is located at 108 Baker Street, near the fictional home (221b Baker Street) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famed sleuth. The address has actually been assigned to the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

The Park Plaza movie package includes overnight stay, a two course set dinner and continental breakfast at Sherlock’s Grill, two speciality cocktails served in Sherlock’s Bar, use of the hotel’s fitness suite and two tickets for the Sherlock Holmes movie at Everyman Cinema Baker Street.

If that’s not enough for you, check out VisitBritain’s Sherlock Holmes campaign and find clues to Sherlock Holmes themed attractions littered throughout London.

The four-star, deluxe, boutique-style Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes London Hotel offers 119 guest rooms housed in two 18th century buildings. The location offers a chance to stroll through both Regents Park and Hyde Park.  Oxford Street and the Baker Street Underground station are just a short walk, and Wembley Stadium is 15 minutes away by Jubilee line.

Hotel Photo courtesy Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts

Info: 108 Baker Street, London W1U 6LJ , UK; +44 (0) 20 7486 6161; www.parkplazasherlockholmes.com/

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World Class Golf @ Hotel Principe Felipe in Murcia Spain

Are you looking for a vacation that includes lots of warm weather and golf or maybe tennis? If you are wild about golf and want to get away from the cold this winter, right now you could stay at this five-star Spanish resort and play unlimited golf for seven days at about $450 per night. Staying here at the Hotel La Manga Club Príncipe Felipe is definitely a luxury but for many it might be the perfect getaway regardless of the price.

There are two types of accommodations within La Manga Club, both ideally placed to make the most of the resort’s facilities: The gorgeous five-star La Manga Club Hotel Príncipe Felipe or the comforts of the self-catering apartments and guestrooms at nearby Las Lomas Village. While we were there in November, the mild temperatures had everyone out walking the paths through the extensive resort property. We had only one morning of fog that caused the morning tee off to be delayed a little, and to cause a few to pull on a sweater. Otherwise, our week in La Manga was a wonderful Spain vacation with the family. Read More »

Hotel Urbano, an artsy new boutique hotel in Miami, Fla. is celebrating it’s grand opening by offering first night’s stay at a $20.10 rate during January 2010.

Hotel Urbano, Miami

Urbano, located in Brickell Avenue, offers 65 guest rooms spread over 3 floors with walk-in showers and some snazzy interior design, with views of either the pool or the city, and some rooms even have their own Lanai.

The four cabanas, the fire-pit and the bar alongside the outdoor pool offer a good place to chill out after a hard day of tramping around in  Miami.

For the artistically inclined, Urbano is even more of an exhibitionist, partnering with the Art Fusion Galleries of the Miami Design District to display new exhibits at art receptions which will be held at the hotel.

Urbano’s Dec 5 launch doubled as an Art Basel celebration party at the Art Fusion Galleries. The hotel says even the food and drinks offered by their full-service restaurant & bar are all “inspired by Miami’s eclectic art scene.”

The $20.10 rate is applicable for January stays only, and only for the 1st night. $159 for the remaining nights on a city view room. Upgrade to a pool view for an additional $20 per night or get your own private Lanai for $60 more per night. Minimum 2-night stay required. Use promo code SPECIAL.

Photos courtesy Hotel Urbano

Info: 2500 Brickell Ave., Miami, FL 33129; (305) 854-2070 or (888) 657-3448 for reservations; www.hotelurbano.com/

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