Having the opportunity to stay at a hotel to experience its every intricacies is really the best way to write about what’s good and what can be improved upon, and to give potential guests an insider’s take on a resort. I was provided a two-night’s stay at CoCo Key Water Resort for me and my family to relax and play for a weekend. I’m nothing if not honest, so I’m going to tell you the good, the not-so-good, and everything in between.

We arrived on Friday afternoon to check in and our room was ready for us. I will say there were a few hiccups during the first hour or so of the stay, but the manager on staff, Howard, took VERY good care of us. I saw him interact with several other hotel guests as well, so I know he wasn’t just playing it up for me as a member of the travel media. I got a very good sense that the staff and management are available and ready to help solve any problems immediately.

Queen-size beds at CoCo Key, Orlando, Florida

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Most visitors to the ancient Teotihuacan Pyramids do so on a day trip from Mexico City. They arrive in the morning, spend a few hours wandering the ruins site, then hop back on an outbound bus. Somehow, that just didn’t feel right to me. I wanted to explore the ruins at leisure, to have time to climb both the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon without feeling rushed or worrying about missing a bus. Rather than do the day trip, I decided to stay in the small town of San Juan Teotihuacan, located jut a couple of miles away from the ruins.

Posada Familiar in San Juan de Teotihuacan

I took a one-way bus to San Juan Teotihuacan, got off in the middle of town, and began looking for a place to stay for a couple of nights. Picking my way through rubble-filled streets torn up for sewer installation, I circled the central plaza but didn’t find even a single hotel. Shop owners directed me to the outskirts of town, where all the international chain hotels were located, but when I Read More »

A Guest Room at the Hotel Marlowe

Boston in the summer can be absolutely beautiful, and with so many kid-friendly activities in the area, it’s a perfect destination for families to visit.  The Hotel Marlowe, located right by the Museum of Science in Cambridge, MA, is offering a Kid Planet package for families visiting Boston.

The package starts at $299 per night, and includes the following:

• One-night deluxe overnight accommodations for four at the Hotel Marlowe
• Four passes to the Museum of Science (located right next door)
• Plate of fresh baked cookies in-room
• Continental Breakfast for four in Bambara (the hotel’s on-site restaurant)
• Two Kimpton Kids Kits

The Hotel Marlowe is family and pet friendly, and offers business services with internet access.  The hotel has a on-site fitness room, and valet parking is available.  Each morning, guests can receive complimentary morning coffee and tea service in the hotel’s living room, and in the evening, you can enjoy a complimentary wine hour.  All of the 236 guest rooms are decorated in a stylish, bright color scheme (as seen in the photo above), and all include LCD flat-screen televisions and other modern amenities.  Join the Kimpton InTouch Guest Loyalty program for free high-speed internet.

Hotel Marlowe
25 Edwin H. Land Blvd.
Cambridge, MA 02141
800.825.7140

Photo credit: The Hotel Marlowe

Fourth of July Fireworks

Perhaps it’s the pyromaniac in me, but I LOVE fireworks displays, so the Fourth of July makes me insanely happy each and every year, more so even than New Years. The U.S. has some truly spectacular fireworks displays, so why not get into the spirit and make a mini vacation out of the weekend? Quite a few hotels are offering Fourth of July deals to entice would-be homebodies into buying a room for a night or two to really enjoy the busy weekend.

For example, check out the Fourth of July deal going on at the Glenn Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. They’re offering a cutely named “Hit the Roof, Then Hit the Hay” package, which entitles you to unlimited access to the rooftop party featuring a DJ, breakfast for two and two “Glennteanis. ” I’ve had them, and they’re GOOD — they’re made up of vodka (of course), cucumbers, mint leaves (YUM) and lime juice. They freshen your breath before you kiss someone while watching the fireworks~! The Glenn Hotel still has rooms available for $189 in this package, which is a great deal for downtown Atlanta at this time of year! You’ll be a five minute walk away from the actual display at Underground Atlanta, too — though I’d recommend just watching from the rooftop!

A friend of mine throwing a Fourth of July party in San Diego, California, told me about the Sheraton located at the marina. It’s a little more pricey, around $210/night, but all rooms have balconies, and if you’re not lucky enough to snag one that actually faces the fireworks (they’re set off on the USS Midway), you can just plop yourself down on the front lawn. While you’re in San Diego, be sure to check out the Polar Bear Plunge exhibit! It’s a fun way to at least pretend to stay cool this summer, and the bears’ antics are hilarious.
Having just come back from visiting beautiful Chicago, Illinois, where there so many things to do, I know that many of the hotels located on the Miracle Mile (or along the water front!) would be fantastic places to watch fireworks displays. I stayed at the W, but the InterContinental is a lovely location as well. They have a chocolate bar — enough said. The display starts at 9pm at the Navy Pier, and it is supposed to be one of the best in the US!

Just a small selection to get you started – enjoy the shows!

Photo Credit: Maurice on Flickr