As hotel obsessives (yes, like me) know, the Ritz-Carlton is the gold standard for service. Executives and sales departments from other industries study them to learn how to treat their most valued clients. And guests of the Ritz-Carlton consistently rave about the attention to detail and care they enjoy while staying at the properties.

The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, CA

Seriously, it’s real. For a former job, we’d put our (ridiculously rich) Board of Directors up in the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton, on Nob Hill — they demanded to stay there. I’d go running up there to do whatever gofer stuff they needed, and even then, when I was a totally junior peon, every single staff person was the picture of friendly solicitousness. They greet you at the door with a smile, everything is ready for you in a nanosecond, and if you have to wait someone brings you chilled water. On a silver tray. It’s delightful.

Yes, special tuxedo chocolate strawberries. Note the silver tray!

Like so many wonderful things in life, you have to experience it to really understand it, and it can be a bit pricey — a luxury in the most traditional sense.

Before you sigh in wishful yearning, and decide you’ll never know, check this out: This summer the Ritz-Carlton is placing that luxury (a little more) within reach with special value packages.

Not a sale, not a discount, an added value package.

A room at the SF Ritz-Carlton. Check out the view!

I’m especially impressed by the “Peace of Mind” package, which is all about relaxing and creating memories, in gorgeous locations like San Francisco (of course!), Maui, Key Biscayne, the Virgin Islands, Europe and the Middle East. The package includes:

• deluxe room accommodations
• full American breakfast for two served in the restaurant (and their restaurants are always fabulous)
• daily internet access and local phone calls
• overnight parking
• Ritz Kids special activities program for two kids
• three nights for the price of two; five nights for the price of three; and a week for the price of only four nights

Did you see that last bullet? The one in bold? A week for the price of four nights? You can do this! Make your reservations now!

This package is only available through September 30, 2009 and the rate will depend on which location. Visit the “One Vacation” page of the Ritz-Carlton site to get all the details and check availability. Then prepare to experience the good life!

I’m not sure if Kentucky is technically considered Southern, but my stay at the Doubletree Suites in Lexington, Kentucky sure felt like southern hospitality at its finest.

I was nervous about the accommodations because I was staying with two other girlfriends and we’d chosen this hotel, in part, because it was one of the least expensive options in town.

My concerns were almost immediately put to rest when I walked into the lobby.

The lobby of the Doubletree Suites is a beautiful indoor courtyard, flanked on four sides by the guest rooms rising up above.  A fountain, gazebo, and seating areas that looked like they belonged in a stately library contributed to an elegant and charming ambiance.  I half expected a gentleman in a waistcoat to offer to escort me to the elevator.

Each staff member I met during my stay added to the welcoming feeling.  The receptionist checked us in quickly with both competence and graciousness.  The housekeeping staff beamed each morning when they showed up with extra towels and coffee packets.  The concierge charmed my girlfriends and I with his drawl and his eagerness to guide our daily activities.  The entire staff went above and beyond to take care of a friend of mine who had her luggage lost by the airline.

But the stand out, for me, was the in house tech support who helped us access the wireless internet when we couldn’t get our laptops to play nice with their servers.  The only thing that could have made the stay better would have been free wireless internet.

Aside from the extraordinary customer service, the accommodations I actually paid for far exceeded my expectations.  The suites at the Doubletree are set up with a bedroom and bathroom and a separate, if rather small, living area.  The living area consisted of a mini-fridge, writing desk, arm chair and fold out couch.

Between the two rooms and the generously sized bathroom, three women found ample space to spread out and primp without feeling like we were climbing all over one another.

The Doubletree Suites in Lexington is a great location for a girlfriend getaway or romantic weekend.  It wouldn’t be my first recommendation for business or family travel because of the lack of free internet and continental breakfast.  I would be especially nervous about bringing small children after witnessing a wedding that was held in the hotel lobby on Saturday morning.  However, this hotel is ideal for adults looking for a relaxing vacation at a reasonable price.

The Lemon Tree Inn, Naples, Florida

Father’s Day is this weekend — are you ready?

Admit it. You’re up late, just a couple of days before the big holiday, surfing the internet and bracing yourself to pay rush charges for some techy gadget. But that won’t show him how much you care.

You know what will? A fishing trip in the Everglades. In kayaks. And it’s much easier to arrange than you think!

The Lemon Tree Inn is offering a “Go Fish” package that will be like catnip — ahem, catfish — to anglers. It includes a five hour excursion into the heart of mangrove, manatee and alligator territory, plus two nights stay at the Inn, which is a charming property with 39 “tropical” style rooms in Naples, Florida.

Apparently kayak fishing is the newest “extreme” version of fishing, and expert fishing guide Captain Charles Wright from Everglades Kayak Fishing knows just where to look for speckled trout, tarpon and snook.

Btw, for the non-fishing-aficionados, those are fish.

When you’re not out fishing, you can lounge around the Lemon Tree Inn’s pool or gazebo, or take a quick two block stroll to the galleries, shops and restaurants on Fifth Avenue South.

Packages start at $530 for two people now through December 14, 2009, and go up to $660 from December 15, 2009 until April 14, 2010.

I don’t know about your dad, but my fly fisherman father would consider that a bargain. Now if I can just convince someone else to go with him … alligators, eek!

Hampton Inn

The Hampton Inn in Williamsville, New York (near Buffalo) is really great. I’d say it’s a solid 3 star hotel, but it feels fancier than most 3 star hotels I’ve stayed in. I was given a room with two queen beds – the room was huge! The sheets were some of the softest I’ve ever felt, and the hotel provided three different types of pillow cushiness – soft, medium and hard. The bathroom was very well-equipped with quality shampoos and conditioners, and the shower head had a bunch of massage settings.

The pool was fabulous! Really, really warm, with a large jacuzzi next to it. It was on the smaller side again, but who cares? The pool was open until 10pm. I didn’t have a chance to use the gym, but I saw that it had some ellipticals, treadmills and bikes.

I stayed at this hotel for only one night, so I didn’t get to do too much around the hotel, but I do know that it’s only 10 minutes away from Duff’s this fantastic Buffalo Wing place. (Buffalo wings come from Buffalo!) If you are in Buffalo, you have to go – and pay attention to the spiciness warning signs, they are for real. I ordered mild-medium, and the wings were fairly hot. We also went to Coffee Culture, which had a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich and some of the best tomato basil soup I’ve ever had.

I definitely want to come back to Buffalo – it’s only 20 minutes from Niagara Falls and from Canada! I’d stay at this Hampton Inn again.

Photo Credit: Imjoshdotcom