Hotels

The Lobby of the Hotel St. James

Are you looking to experience old world hospitality and elegance without leave the continent?  Le Hotel Le St. James, located in historic Old Montreal (my favorite section of Montreal), is offering two wonderfully luxurious packages this December.

The Romance in Old Montreal Package includes:

• A one night stay in a deluxe Heritage suite (average of 1,200 square feet!)
• A five-course dinner (excluding alcohol) for two in a private alcove in the on-site XO Le Restaurant (which was rated best restaurant in Montreal)
• A $200CAD spa gift certificate per room per stay
• Two bathrobes
• Full breakfast for two

The Parisian Style Stopping package includes:

• One night in the Royal Suite, which is over 2,300 square feet and including a living area, dining area, powder room, master bedroom, and deluxe room
• Ground transportation from the airport and the Holt Renfrew in Montreal
• A bottle of champagne and flower bouquet
• Lunch for two (excluding alcohol) in the XO Le Restaurant
• Breakfast for two

The Hotel Le St. James is a luxury boutique hotel with 60 rooms and suites in a restored building dating back to 1870.  Room amenities include plasma televisions, evening turndown service, Molton Brown toiletries (I love these!), goose down duvets, bed linens from Italy, and telephones that manage room temperature and room lighting.  It’s located in the historic Old Montreal section of town, and is walking distance to many shops and restaurants.

Hotel Le St. James
355 Rue Saint-Jacques Ouest
Montréal, QC, Canada
1-866-841-3111

Photo credit: Hotel Le St. James

That’s Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany’s quaint medieval walled city overlooking the scenic Tauber Valley in Bavaria, which comes with Imperial castles and a Torture Museum.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

The reason we’re suggesting you make plans to shift into a German castle is because the good people at TripAdvisor have come up with their Travelcast, and Rothenburg makes the cut as one of the top 5 destinations in the world for 2010.

There were, of course, 4 other top spots, but Rothenburg was of particular interest because Germany is something of a star amongst 2010 hot-spots – featured prominently in both Lonely Planet’s Best of 2010 guide book and USA Today’s list of 2010 destinations where all the action is going to be at.

If you can’t find a castle-keeper brave enough to put you up, then the hotel offering best value in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the Hotel Spitzweg, as per TripAdvisor.

Spitzweg is a landmark hotel built in 1536, which managed to survive being turned into a brewery and also avoided damage during Germany’s wars, before finally being restored and turned into a hotel in 1984.

It is named after Carl Spitzweg, a painter of the romantic era, and the hotel claims to be perfect for romantic getaways. Rates starting from around $100, inclusive of breakfast buffet, service & tax and free parking in the courtyard.

Photo by Jaeger-Meister

Info: Paradeisgasse 2 – D-91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber;+49 98 61 / 94 29 0; www.hotel-spitzweg.de

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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 »

The Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, a lovely hotel on Central Florida’s Treasure Coast, is offering a romantic Valentine getaway for threesomes. That’s a Valentine’s Day weekend special called Pooch n’ Smooch for couples traveling with a pet (or pets). Package incudes:-

Vero Beach Hotel & Oliver

•Pampered Pooch Picnic at the Dog Park with a basket that includes a picnic blanket, two wine spritzers, organic treats for mom and dad, dog treats, ball, water and a collapsible dog bowl, and a clean-up bag.
•Turn down amenity of Champagne and homemade doggie treats from local pet boutique, Hearth & Hound.
•$5 donation to Indian River County Humane Society.

If you want to make your pet feel extra-special, package upgrades include a couple’s photo shoot with your pet on the beach, and/or two Kimpton bathrobes and a dog bed.

The Vero Beach Hotel & Spa is a Kimpton Hotel, which makes it a pet-friendly hotel (see Kimpton’s pet policy). Oliver, the hotel’s pet director, will be at hand to ensure that you and your pet(s) enjoy a comfortable stay.

Use promo code POOCH if you’re booking online, or call 1-866-602-VERO and request the Pooch n’ Smooch package.

Photos courtesy Vero Beach Hotel & Spa/Kimptom Hotels

Info: 3500 Ocean Drive Vero Beach, FL  32963; (772) 231-5666; www.verobeachhotelandspa.com/

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The Landmark London Hotel reception

One word, posh. If it was convenient, Beyonce or her luggage would stay here. If she didn’t have Beckingham Palace, Posh Spice would stay here. The atmosphere and decor of The Landmark Hotel in central London is truly lavish. Built in 1899 and originally known as the Great Central Hotel, this hotel is on par with The Plaza or The Carlyle in New York.

If we stayed long enough, I imagine we would have seen a sweet little British Eloise roaming amidst the ladies enjoying their afternoon tea. The Landmark London Hotel is a 5-star hotel with more luxurious amenities than I have seen before, starting with our basic room for 550 GBP upto the Lifestyle Suites for 2,700 GBP per night. Really. Our stay gave me plenty of material for my imaginary life as a famous writer.

Given the level of service and beauty of the hotel furnishings we experienced, I am not surprised this hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.  Stay at The Landmark London and you could dine next to a sheik or maybe a regular family like us.  21st century bonus: The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (LHW) is the first luxury brand to, not only provide consumers the option of having a carbon-neutral travel experience, but also to make the financial contribution on their behalf to offset their energy consumption. Read More »

La Casa de la Marquesa

The 18th-century La Casa de la Marquesa is a grand place to set up camp for your exploration of Querétaro, Mexico. Besides being centrally located, the historic building’s Moorish details and grand lobby will catch your breath every time you return from strolling along the tree-lined boulevards and pedestrian walkways in this colonial city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

The hotel’s 25 suites are comfortably furnished in colonial style. Rooms are large and feature wood floors, antiques and area rugs. Rates range from $180 to $350 (not including tax). While staying right in the central part of the main building can sometimes be a bit noisy (sound carries in the cavernous lobby), it was worth it to open my door and view the spectacular décor right outside my room.

The Marquesa dining room features international cuisine, however I preferred picking among the select Mexican dishes. The breakfast menu’s chilaquiles (pieces of corn tortilla with chicken, salsa and cheese) were my absolute favorite. Take a stroll through the property when you’re finished with your meal, and make a stop at the ornate chapel on the second floor. After the lobby, it’s my favorite part of the hotel.

Read More »

The Old Mill has long been a integral part of Toronto’s heritage.  First discovered in 1615, it was then a thoroughfare for Native Canadians.  Now it is home to live entertainment, weddings and corporate meetings.

Read More »

French hotel brand Sofitel has launched an ‘I Love Chocolate’ special. Yes, it involves a lot of free chocolate – Dark and milk chocolate, succulent confectionaries, precious cookies and hot chocolate drinks.

Sofitel Los Angeles & Chocolate

Since you’re already drooling, let’s bite into the details of this special. Between November 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010, anyone who books the ‘I Love Chocolate’ special gets a third night free at any of Sofitel’s over 85 participating hotels in 26 countries.

Participating Sofitel hotels in the US include the Sofitels in Chicago (Water Tower), New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco (Bay) and Washington DC (Lafayette Square).

Plus, you get a delicious breakfast served in the restaurant every morning, and an ‘all chocolate afternoon tea’ which includes hot chocolate, pastries and other delicacies. And also a late check-out.

If you’re looking for romantic hotels, you won’t get more amour anywhere else. All these Sofitels lean heavily towards a European experience – that means luxury, champagne, privacy, breathtaking views, fancy art on the walls…and chocolate.

For more details, visit www.sofitel-ilovechocolate.com

Chocolate photo by norwichnuts; Sofitel Los Angeles photo courtesy Accor Hotels

During a recent family trip to Seaside, Florida, (one of my all-time favorite places) to visit the white sandy beaches in the Panhandle, I happened by Inn by the Sea, Vera Bradley. A SPECTACULAR building from the street, and apparently, even more spectacular on the inside. The Bed & Breakfast is adorned in Vera Bradley style; each room is decorated in the pattern of a different Vera Bradley signature fabric.

Inn by the Sea, Vera Bradley

As it is qualified as a bed & breakfast (few and far between at the beach in north Florida), complimentary continental breakfast is available, but some reviews I found indicate, you may have a better breakfast at a nearby restaurant. (I HIGHLY suggest the Great Southern Cafe in the town square of Seaside. Order the gouda cheese grits and beignets – you will NOT be disappointed.) Staying in a bed & breakfast normally qualifies you for extra special touches, and rumor has it that they give you your own Vera Bradley bag as a welcome gift. Considering their bags are in the $50 range, that’s a pretty special take-home gift.

Some of the rooms will sleep more than two people, but having two young children myself, I would be too worried of their clumsy feet and elbows around the stylish decorations to bring them along for the visit. If you’re a romantic, or are looking for a romantic seaside getaway, the Inn by the Sea, Vera Bradley, should be a contender for your stay.

Because I ‘happened’ by the Inn and had heard about it being in Seaside, I thought I’d stop in to check it out unannounced, but unfortunately, it was locked and not open to the public. Reservations can be made through Cottage Rental Agency, but in my opinion, it’s very difficult to make an online reservation or find the per-night rate. Each room is listed separately, so unless you want to check each room for each length-of-stay, I’d suggest calling them directly to make a reservation. The one reservation I found was about $240/night for a fall weekend stay, and considering the location in Seaside, that is a fairly reasonable price.

Grand Victorian entrance at Inn by the Sea

Inn by the Sea, Vera Bradley, Room 7, Palm

38 Seaside Ave
Santa Rosa Beach, FL‎
800.277.8696‎

Room view photo courtesy of Cottage Rental Agency

Harrison Hot Springs Resort offers both indoor and outdoor hot springs to enjoy.

When I first stayed at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort, I was shocked at how low the price was.  A lot hasn’t changed in that department in ten years and I was even more shocked to see the price had only gone marginally in that time.  When we went, my husband and I were newlyweds, and back in the day, we didn’t have a lot of money.  I booked the hotel as a surprise to him and whisked him away to this gorgeous resort where we could be relatively alone.

The room itself was impeccable.  Clean, crisp sheets a top the best bed I’ve ever ever stayed on, hands down.  The experience was that much more luxurious because of the attention to detail and I’ve never felt so comfortable in a hotel before.  It looks like that attention to details and customer needs hasn’t wavered, judging by the pictures I’ve seen.  Having said that, I have also read negative reviews that the rooms are outdated.  The Harrison Beach Hotel and Harrison Heritage House & Cottages have much higher ratings than the main resort.  So if we were to go back, I think we would try one of those before re-booking at the resort.

The area itself is astounding.  To bask in the amazing hot springs, watch eagles in their natural habitat, or simply enjoy each other in such a peaceful setting, this is the place to fall in love all over again.

Photo credit: http://www.harrisonresort.com/