Stamford Marriott Hotel, Connecticut

Next time you need a hotel in eastern Connecticut, I can strongly recommend one to avoid: the Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa. Although the property is highly rated, it’s clear that they have low regard for the safety and comfort of their guests.

In 2006 a woman was raped at gunpoint — in front of her two toddlers — in the parking facility at this Marriott.

The rapist, Gary Frick, had been hanging around the lobby and parking garage and acting suspiciously for several days. However, hotel security didn’t notice him or make him leave. They also failed to stop the assault. The victim was only able to summon help when another guest drove up, she screamed, and Frick ran away. He was caught three days later in New York state, and confessed immediately.

Frick is serving 20 years for the crime. The victim then brought a civil suit against the Marriott for failing to provide adequate security in their parking facility.

The victim isn’t looking for a big payday. Her suit asks for a mere $15,000 in damages. What’s amazing is that the Marriott, and their legal team, are so petty that instead of apologizing and settling the case, they decided to fight back. By blaming her!

The Marriott said that the victim “failed to exercise due care for her own safety and the safety of her children and proper use of her senses and facilities.” In other words, not their fault that she was raped on their property. They also “outed” her as a rape victim to friends and colleagues by subpoenaing them to appear at the trial. As if her pilates instructor would have something relevant to say about Marriott’s security!

The internet is aflame with this story, and unsurprisingly everyone is on the side of this poor victim. Over the weekend the owner of the hotel issued an apology, but too little, too late.

Just don’t stay at this Marriott. Ever.

Photo: Marriott Hotels

Almost from the moment it opened its doors in 1920, the Drake Hotel won most favored status with Royalty. Future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a guest during the 1920s, as was exiled Grand Duke Alexander of Russia and Queen Marie of Romania. During the 1960s, by now an established Chicago icon, the Drake hosted Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Prince Charles, and Pope John Paul II. Even Princess Diana stayed at the Drake Hotel during her only visit to Chicago in 1996.

The Drake Hotel is a commanding presence along Chicago's Magnificent Mile

The preponderance of visiting kings, queens, diplomats, and entertainers molded the character of the Drake, which quickly became known for its commitment to the highest levels of guest service. However, this same reputation was the source of some interesting anachronisms. Although the Drake was the first hotel in Chicago to air condition and include color televisions in all guest rooms, it stubbornly refused to install ice machines until 1967, when the quality of machine ice was finally deemed comparable to “hand make cubes,” and human elevator operators were retained well into the 1970′s.

Main lobby

After Hilton International was brought in to manage the Drake in 1981, $40 million was allocated to return the hotel to its original splendor. Rooms were equipped with high-speed Internet, dual line speaker phones with caller ID, in-room safes, luxurious bathrobes, remote control TVs, iron and ironing boards, and alarm clock radios. A 3000 sq. ft. fitness facility was added and made available to all guests on a complimentary basis.

Drake king room

View to Lake Michigan from a Drake hotel room

High Tea in the Palm Court

Though British royalty may not visit with the regularity of bygone eras, America’s royalty – Hollywood – has discovered the Drake in recent years. Scenes from the movies Mission: Impossible, Risky Business, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Hero, What Women Want, and Wicker Park, among others, were filmed at the hotel. Even so, the Drake still maintains one majestic tradition. Every afternoon, in-the-know tourists and Chicago elite gather at the hotel’s Palm Court for live harp music and High Tea, a tradition at the Drake for more than 25 years.

Despite numerous new luxury hotels springing up along North Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, the Drake, with 535 guest rooms on ten floors, five restaurants/lounges, and four major public banquet and meeting areas, is stiill considered to be one of Chicago’s most distinguished hotel premier luxury hotels.

Photo credits: The Drake Hotel

Article by barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Atlanta Skyline

Quick, quick! Atlanta, Georgia’s beautiful JW Marriott in Buckhead has tossed out a truly too-good-to-ignore deal: an Advance Purchase Rate on rooms for $109 plus tax! You have to stay on either August 21, 22, 28 or 29. You have to reserve your room at least one full day ahead of time, and once you reserve, you have to fork over all of your money right there, and there are NO refunds. But, come on, would you really cancel?
Rooms here normally start at around $200/night. You’ll enjoy large, comfy rooms (LOVE the sheets at Marriott hotels), a nice exercise rooms, a big indoor pool, a number of bars and the yummy Lenox Grille. You’ll be close to Lenox Square Mall, too (the hotel is actually connected to the mall!), where you can shop till you drop (just don’t drop dead of a heart attack when you see the prices at the stores.)

I like the bathrooms at this hotel – check them out and you’ll see why. Marble counter tops, separate showers and baths, fuzzy bath robes. I often judge a hotel room by the quality of the bathroom, because that element plays a big part in how much I feel at home.

Just put down the “ADP” promotion code when promoted in the box. Then you’re off to enjoy a really nice hotel at a very small price.

Photo Credit: Coka Koehler

The Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach, CA would like you to show your love for them by getting all tattooed up under a promotion called the ‘Ink and Stay’ package. Of course, you’ll be ‘suitably’ rewarded for your show of love.

Hotel Erwin, Venice Beach, CA

Package includes a $100 voucher for a tattoo from Hotel Erwin’s acclaimed, in-house tattoo and graffiti artist Norm, plus Lubriderm lotion and ice-pack for healing, bottle of tequila to numb the pain, and a chance to opt for temporary tattoos - in case you chicken out in the tattoo parlor.

You also stand to get yourself a $500 bonus if you get a tattoo that  says “I HEART HOTEL ERWIN.” Not sure what the love of your life will have to say about that - but you might save some of that tequila to prove that you were too drunk to know what you were doing.

The newly re-launched and hip Hotel Erwin, overlooking the Venice Beach Boardwalk and located 200 ft from the beach, has quickly become a popular hangout for the artsy crowd in Venice Beach and their patrons and admirers. 

The Hotel even commissioned Norm – the aforementioned graffiti and tattoo artist from the famed Spotlight Tattoo in los Angeles, to paint some art (see video) at the hotel’s entrance. And a classic breakfast spot (HASH) and rooftop open-air lounge (HIGH) at the hotel add to the Venice Beach experience.

The Ink and Stay offer is valid until Dec 31, 2009.

Info: 1697 Pacific Avenue, Los Angeles (Venice Beach), CA 90291; (310) 452-1111; website; Photos courtesy Joie de Vivre Hospitality.