Hotels

One of the Historic Buildings

Christmas Day I was in need of a fireplace, a snack and a hot drink, none of which could be found in my little apartment. We drove over to Cavallo Point Lodge, a hotel recently named one of the top ten new American landmarks by Travel + Leisure, where we found all that and more.

Porch at Cavallo Point

Set inside Fort Baker National Park, Cavallo Point mimics the officer’s quarters of its cousin across the bay, San Francisco’s better-known Presidio: clean white buildings with crisp red roofs parked within view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Accomodations include two choices of room styles, historic or contemporary.

A Room at Cavallo Point

The specials page reveals the usual facials with your girlfriends and champagne with your husband packages as well as one intriguing contender: the “Ultimate House Party” package, which includes rental of one of the 6 to 12 bedroom houses for a party with the huge benefit of having someone else clean up the mess.

And yes, there’s the lovely Farley Bar, with two fireplaces and a nice selection of liquors, located in the same building as the Murray Circle restaurant, which seemed packed on Christmas day.

Lovely photos from naan through Flickr Creative Commons

Crunch time: New Year’s Eve is just days away, and you don’t want to ring in 2009 laying on the couch eating Cheezits with your dog.

Stratosphere Hotel

Heading to Sin City? Search vegas.com for a quick look at hotel rates in Las Vegas. The Stratosphere shows a Tower Deluxe room for $275 on 12/31 (compared to $114 on Tuesday evening). Make sure to reserve a little bit of your budget for festivities–no one should be stuck with Cold Duck to ring in the new year. 

W Hotel Signage

In San Francisco, the W Hotel offers an “Escape to Remember” package starting at $269 that includes a bottle of sparkling wine, a camera to capture all those moments you might otherwise (want to) forget, and 2 p.m. late checkout that may be more a necessity than a perk after celebrating at the hotel’s blow-out party on four dance floors.

Hyatt Regency Lobby

 Chicago’s Hyatt Regency is co-hosting a party with a local radio station and offering discounted rates to guests. Book online to get a room for only $199 on New Year’s Eve and take advantage of 3 p.m. late check-out the next day. You’ll need it!

Hyatt Regency image from mbaylor

W signage picture from tanakawho

Trapp Lodge, Stowe, Vermont

The hills of Vermont are more alive with the Sound of Music than they have been in decades. Sam von Trapp, the third generation of von Trapps, is embracing the movie version of his heritage for the benefit of the family hotel and their guests.

Among other things, Sam von Trapp is bringing back the beloved Sing-a-longs, and on Sunday, during the ABC network airing of The Sound of Music, he is running this commercial for the hotel in Stowe, Vermont. It’s the first time they’ve ever done a TV commercial.

Maria and Captain von Trapp

The family was immortalized by Julie Andrews and the very dashing Christopher Plummer (who by the way was also in wonderful in Somewhere in Time filmed at Mackinau Hotel! He’s a hotel-lover’s actor) — in the film, which took more than a few liberties with the family’s story.

However, they really did escape from Germany, they really were folk singers, and they really do have a beautiful hotel in the mountains of Vermont. Johannes von Trapp, Sam’s father, has traditionally distanced the lodge from the film, but it remains a big reason for guests to visit the lodge.

The Nordic Center

For cross country skiers it’s an especially magical place, with a world renowned Nordic Ski Center, featuring 45 kilometers of groomed trails and 100 kilometers of back country skiing and hiking trails.

Guest rooms

Set on 2,400 acres above the village of Stowe, Vermont, the resort features several types of accommodations including a 96 room lodge, 100 two-bedroom chalets which are like ski condos, and several luxury villas.

Dining room

In addition to outdoor activities, the lodge also offers a fitness center, three pools and two dining rooms that combine the family’s Austrian tradition with the Vermont location. There is also a rock climbing wall, and on site massages for the perfect luxury treatment at the end of long day of alpine play.

The Trapp Lodge offers several specials, including a special 20% discount for Audi owners and packages for skiing, snowshowing and the more relaxing wine and dine vacations.

Hyatt Regency Dallas

Together with the Hyatt Regency Dallas, for the fourth year in a row SoupMobile Inc., a non-profit in Dallas, Texas, that provides meals to homeless people, made Christmas Eve a little warmer and brighter.

Hyatt Regency Dallas room

Each year, as part of the annual Christmas Angel Project, SoupMobile holds a banquet for participants, who also receive clothing. Following the banquet, which was sponsored by Pizza Hut and Chick-Fil-A, the participants got to spend the night at the luxury Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel!

Hyatt Regency Dallas pool

The Hyatt Regency Dallas is a beautiful hotel, with several suites, a rooftop pool, deluxe fitness center and a range of dining options. Located in downtown Dallas, it is easily accessible from both DFW and Love Field airports. The four star property consistently gets excellent reviews from guests.

I suspect the participants of the Christmas Angel Project will be echoing those good reviews, too!

All kinds of interesting things happen in hotels, and often celebrities are involved.

Kiefer Sutherland

The holidays can bring out the stress monster within, especially when you’re far from home. Back in 2006, Kiefer Sutherland dealt with seasonal anxiety by having a few drinks with some friends at the Strand Palace Hotel in London. Then he attacked the Christmas tree in the lobby.

I’m sure at the time, to Kiefer, it seemed like an eminently reasonable thing to do. He even made arrangements to pay for the damages before he took the tree down with a flying tackle, which was caught on video for him “enjoy” watching for the rest of his life.

The staff at the Strand, who clearly have outstanding customer service training, are reported to have handled it calmly and professionally, prompting Sutherland to say, “This f—ing hotel rocks!”

Merry Christmas!

photo: ballookey on flickr

For many, when they think of Tampa, Florida, they either think of beaches or Busch Gardens. And both of those things are definitely fantastic, but sometimes there’s no place like downtown, and there are a plethora of hotels available at reasonable prices so you can take advantage.

Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel

The Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel is centrally located in downtown, making it a great choice for anyone doing business there, attending a convention, seeing a show, or going to the Tampa Aquarium. According to nearly all the reviews, the rooms are great — spacious and clean. However, recent renovations caused problems for some guests, so it would certainly be worth asking about the status of renovations on the floor where you’ll be staying before you book. While there, you can take advantage of the pool and gym as well as a boat dock where you can dock your boat or book a charter fishing trip. Prices start in the lower $100s.

Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina lobby

The Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina is a part of the Channelside District, giving guests access to tons of entertainment and dining options. The rooms are well-appointed and modern, each with a balcony offering a view of either the bay or the city. There are three restaurants as well as a bar in the impressive lobby, as well as a pool, Jacuzzi, and spa. Additionally, there is a 32 slip full service Marina. You know, in case you wanted to take your yacht there. I have actually stayed in this hotel, and I can say from experience that I was hugely impressed with what we got for the price. Rooms start at around $150, but after a couple of discounts, we stayed there for closer to $120.

Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown Convention Center is also in a great location downtown, offering really large rooms, great for families. Many reviewers mentioned staying here before leaving on a cruise, or when they were seeing a show at the St. Pete Times Forum (which is right next door). Great service is mentioned over and over, as is the complimentary breakfast and happy hour. It’s a little pricier, with rooms starting just below $200, but I’m thinking I could make up for some of that with the included food and drinks!

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to flights to Tampa.

In the mood for a vacation that’s unique, strange or a even a bit bizarre? Check out these not-to-missed options: Perched near the Arctic Circle in Sweden, the Ice Hotel is, as you might guess, a hotel made of ice. Several room options are available, from “cold room” options that include sleeping on actual blocks of ice (brr!) or reindeer skins to the “warm room” options with designs that look like they’re ripped out of an IKEA catalog. Choose the cold room and you’ll be warmed in the morning by a delivery of hot lingonberry juice, welcome respite after the 5 degree night.

White Cliffs Hotel

White Cliffs in New South Wales will put you up in an underground hotel carved out as opal mines. The room rental includes a free tour of the mine and an unforgettable stay in Australia’s outback. Photo courtesy Gourmettraveler.

Cappadocia Cave Suites

Weird but also wonderful are the Cappadocia Cave Suites in Turkey, carved during Hittite, Byzantine and Roman days, but now used as lodging. Your ancient room, nestled among caves used as places of worship, includes wifi and an espresso machine.

Dog Bark Park Inn

Right here in the USA in Cottonwood, Idaho, is the Dog Bark Park Inn which is in the shape of a gigantic beagle. Enter the body of the dog through a private deck, then check out your spacious room, which comes with homemade pastries and granola. The hotel’s website includes this incredible quote from former guests: “Our girls had a fabulous time in the dog’s head.”

Tree House Lodge in Costa Rica

In case you like a more aerie like environment we recommend a tree house in Costa Rica.

Skye Lighthouse is now a hotel

Some prefer the sound of crashing waves and beach access.  In that case check into the Skye Lighthouse, in Scotland. Photo courtesy of Jon & Allison.

Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas

If you prefer more action, nightlife and well, gambling then Las Vegas offers all sorts of strange hotels, with the most wierd and my favorite– the Luxor.  It is so American to think we can replicate the pyramids.

Genting Highlands Hotel in Kuala Lumpur

Or if you just want more than just a little local color, go to Kuala Lumpur for a rainbow-like stay.  I think it looks like a child’s painting, full of whimsy. Photo courtesy of CLF.

Marques de Riscal

I also love the flowing lines this luxury Starwood Resort in Elciego, Spain.  The architect is of course, Frank O. Gehry. He is never dull. Photo courtesy of whomsie.

Underwater Hotel in Itanbul, Turkey (under construction)

And finally, we return to the sea, with an underwater hotel, slated to be finished in 2010, but don’t hold your breath.

Want even more weird hotels? Read the “More Weird Hotels” follow-up post.

Gaslamp Quarter San Diego

Welcome to San Diego, where the weather hardly dips below 60 degrees, even around Christmas! I love this city, and the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown is one of my favorite parts of the city. Not only does the area have great restaurants and nightlife, but there’s also a wonderful collection of hotels fit for all budgets.

Bristol Hotel

The first time I stayed here was back in 2003, and I was immediately drawn to the hotel’s use of Gerber daisies, my favorite flower. A strange memory, I know, but rest assured that the actual hotel was great as well, and I’ve stayed there two other times since then. It’s a modern, boutique style hotel, with clean lines and a cozy feel to it. The beds are extrememly comfortable, and the rooms are decorated with jazzy patterns which manage to be lively yet not too busy. The staff was very friendly and well-trained. Better yet, the rooms run around $200 per night, which is great for the Gaslamp Quarter!

Bristol Hotel San Diego

Sofia Hotel

All the letters in the name are written in lowercase, a tell-tale sign that a hotel thinks of itself as having an attitude. Luckily, in this case the attitude is a great one! All rooms are wired for broadband and you’ll be treated to flat-screen tv’s in the suites. Fiteness afficionados will appreciate the hotel’s private yoga studio and fitness center. The regualr rooms are a bit on the smaller side, so investing in a suite might be a good idea. The bathrooms rock. Suites are under $300 per night, and the regular rooms are around $160.

The Keating Hotel

I think this one is fairly new to the Gaslamp scene, beacuse I’m not that familiar with it. I’ve heard they have a 2-night package which includes a Ferrari rental though! It’s smack in the middle of the Gaslamp and only has 35 (expensive) rooms. The rooms apparently have flat-screened tv’s and the beds have 1000 thread-count sheets. I think I’m going to have to check this place out.

Here’s a great resource for finding other boutique hotels.

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to flights to San Diego.

Photo Credits: Zoonabar, Bristol Hotel website

Palm Desert

Palm Desert, California is a gorgeous oasis. You have the scenic mountains full of snow during the winter, the sweeping valleys with stunning desert flowers during the spring and a collection of new and historic communities. Love golf? You’re definitely in the right place. It’s an easy place to spend a lot of money in.

If you’re planning a trip to Palm Desert in the near future, check out some of the following Palm Desert area hotels. They’re not cheap, but oh, the luxury…

Marriot Desert Springs

This beautiful resort has not one, but two eighteen hole golf courses. The spa is second to none, and the suites are very spacious and have marble and granite bathrooms and ridiculously comfortable beds. There are about six high class restaurants to enjoy onsite, and if you’re looking to get off the hotel grounds, there is so much to see and do, including nearby Joshua National Park.

Renaissance Esmeralda Palm Desert

Esmeralda

It’s been said that this place is so high-end that even the valets get valet parking. You’ll have views of Eisenhower Peak everywhere in this resort, which is located in Indian Wells, about three miles from central Palm Desert. The outdoor pool is heated, and it’s spectacular. There’s even a sandy b each for kids! The lounges and restaurants are modern and classy, and they’re the hub of the hotel’s social activity. The scenery surrounding this resort is worth the price alone, in my opinion.

Indian Wells Resort Hotel

Another stunning option near Palm Desert. And how can you not stay in a place that was thought up by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? This resort is actually considerably less expensive than the previous two, and though it’s been completely remodeled it still has a class Old Hollywood feel to it, at least on the outside. On the inside though, everything looks European and snazzy. I think it’s a great option if you want to have the same scenery and similar service, but you still want to have some money left over toe explore the excellent restuarant scene in the area.

Photo Credits: LIberalMind1012, Esmeralda website,