Downtown Boston

Beans, college students, and horrific traffic: a romantic getaway likely isn’t the first thing to come to mind when you think about Boston, but the city is chock full of interesting sights and cozy places to hunker down if you’re staying there with your best guy or gal.

Hotel Commonwealth was my go-to when my boyfriend visited. The AAA four diamond-rated boutique hotel is conveniently located in Kenmore Square, an easy link to many of Boston’s tourist stops. Order room service from Eastern Standard, the restaurant within the hotel, hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign, and see what happens.

Decorated in the style of 1860′s Boston, the Charles Street Inn offers decor that will delight those who love Victorian extravagance: mantle clocks, chandeliers and etchings grace the inn’s 9 rooms, which are updated with modern luxuries like Frette linens.

Boston's North End

For me, romance is all about the neighborhood. I like to be able to walk down interesting streets, stop in at little cafes, dine in a candle-lit restaurant. For these reasons, landing within walking distance of the North End, the Italian district of town, is ideal. Millenium Bostonian Hotel is a quick jaunt from the North End in the area locals call Faneuil Hall and tourists claim as Quincy Market. Check out the wine and cheese package, then check in for a weekend of romance in Boston.

Grand Hotel, Mackinau Island, Michigan

There is a reason the producers of Somewhere in Time chose Grand Hotel, on Mackinac Island in Michigan, located on Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, as the setting for the romantic time travel film.

In some ways, time has actually stopped at Grand Hotel, a place where you are still required to dress for dinner, there are no cars allowed on the island, and the primary method of transportation is horse drawn carriage.

"World's Largest Porch"

Not to mention it boasts the world’s longest front porch. It’s the social center of the island, and you can relax in a rocking chair and watch the animated buzz around the hotel or contemplate the lake views.

But don’t get the idea that this family friendly resort has a lack of amenities or activities! The variety and quality is definitely 21st century, from the 18 holes of golf on The Jewel, to tennis, swimming and a daily children’s programs for kids five and older.

Built in 1887, the hotel offers a choice of 385 rooms decorated by famed New York designer Carleton Varney. Each one is different, with a series of deluxe rooms decorated and named after famous people or places, like the Teddy Roosevelt Lodge Suite and the Esther Williams Suite. There are six “First Ladies” rooms that were actually decorated with input from Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Barbara Bush.

Every guest room, from the smaller (and less expensive) “Category I” rooms with interior views, to the the “Category III” deluxe lake-view rooms with balconies, comes with individually controlled AC, mini bar, in-room safe, cable TV, iron, and coffee maker.

The season at Grand Hotel runs from April through October, with room rates ranging from $395 night for a single person in a room, to $780/night for double occupancy in one of the luxury Named Suites.

One of the reasons that the rates are so high is that daily breakfast and dinner are included. There are several dining options on the property, including the main dining room, where you must be dressed for dinner, four additional restaurants with varying degrees of formality, four bars that serve light snacks and lunches, as well as three options for afternoon tea – the Fort Mackinau Tea Room, Carleton’s Tea Store and in the hotel palor.

There are several romantic packages at the hotel, worth checking if you’re planning a wedding, honeymoon, or anniversary trip. They also offer several “theme” packages, like a Labor Day Jazz Weekend, Murder Mystery Weekend and the Grand Hotel Lilac Festival.

As a fan of the Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour classic, my vote for the best package is the Somewhere in Time weekend!

champagne glasses

New Year’s Eve is fast approaching! If you live in Atlanta, Georgia, or are planning to be in Atlanta for New Year’s Eve, it’s not too late to book a hotel room at one of the city’s many great hotels. You’ll probably want a hotel that’s either in Midtown or in downtown Atlanta (or, alternatively, in Buckhead) so that you’ll be close to all the great parties and so that you won’t have to worry about dealing with the horrible traffic. Here’s a short list of hotels to consider when welcoming in 2009 this year!

Westin Peachtree Plaza

The Westin Peachtree Plaza

As of Sunday, December 14, there are still rooms available at this Atlanta landmark (it’s one of the very tall buildings you can’t miss on the skyline). Take the famous glass elevator up all 73 floors to enjoy champagne, dinner and a truly spectacular view from the Sun Dial Restaurant on the very tip floor. And when the party is over, slide under the covers in the Westin Heavenly Bed – trust me, these beds will put even an insomniac to sleep. Rates start at $250 for New Year’s Eve, so book soon to get the room you want!

Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo

I can’t believe rooms are still available here! You’ll pay between $200 and $300 for a New Year’s Eve stay, depending on whether or not you want to add one of the packages. Hotel Indigo is smack in the middle of fun Midtown, very close to the Fox Theater, and there are tons of great restaurants and bars around. There’s a small bar in the lobby area, too.

Four Seasons

If 2008 was particularly good for your money-wise, you might enjoy welcoming in the New Year at the Four Seasons Atlanta hotel in Midtown. Rates start at around $400 for December 31st, and there are great spa and bed and breakfast packages available for $500-$600. Dress your best – this is a very sophisticated and classy hotel. Indulge in the beautiful health club before heading out for a night on the town.

Twelve Hotels and Residences

There are two locations, but only the one in Centennial Park has availability for New Year’s Eve when I last checked. All the rooms are suites, ranging from 600-1200 square feet, and – get this – for $319 per night, including the room cost, you can rent one of the hotel’s BMW’s for your entire stay. Nice! (I’m not sure what the rates for this would be for New Year’s Eve, however.) It appears as though the rates at the Centennial Park location downtown are $229 per night, which is a fantastic value for New Year’s Eve.

JW Marriot Hotel Buckhead

The JW Marriot is another great choice for New Year’s Even in Atlanta! Rates are $300-$350 for the night of December 31st, and you’ll be close to Buckhead’s fantastic shopping (the hotel is connected to famous Lenox Square Mall and is close to Phipps Plaza), restaurants and hopping nightlife options.

Have a wonderful New Year’s and remember, be safe! These hotels are the perfect place to party and celebrate with friends without having to worry about driving.

JW Marriot Buckhead Atlanta

Photo credits: Westin Peachtree Plaza website, Hotel Indigo website, JW Marriot Buckhead website

I grew up in Michigan, and while I loved it in the summer, I had a hard time understanding why people came to visit during the winter. It just gets so cold. However, now that I live in the South, I understand the desire to get a snow fix, and if you want winter weather, you might want to check out one of these hotels in Traverse City, Michigan, which is a tourist destination each month out of the year.

Bayshore Resort Traverse City

Bayshore Resort
833 E Front St,
Traverse City, MI 49686
231.935.4400

Whether it’s winter or summer, if you’re in the area, it’s nice to be on the beach, making the Victorian-style Bayshore Resort a great choice. Plus, it’s within walking distance to the charming downtown, which is great in the summer but even better in the winter, so you don’t have to drive through snow or ice.

According to reviews, they have a unique complimentary breakfast bar, and clean, spacious rooms. However, if you’re hoping for a view from your room, be sure to verify exactly what your view will be. Rates start around $70.

Grand Beach Resort Hotel
1683 US 31N
Traverse City, MI 49686
231.534.6708

This is another hotel with reasonable rates and great reviews. With a heated pool, game room, videos, and breakfast (including gourmet cinnamon rolls and Belgian waffles), it’s really family friendly, leading plenty of people to make going to the Grand Beach Resort Hotel an annual family vacation. Plus, the beach has gotten rave reviews, and we all know how important that is! Rates start at $64.

Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City
3575 North US 31 South
Traverse City, MI 49684
231.941.3600

Want more than a few arcade games to keep your kids busy? You need to look into the Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City — this place has its own waterpark, and it’s open year-round, so even if it’s freezing outdoors, you and your crew can splash it up and have a blast. In addition, they offer an arcade and a story hour at night, which comes in handy if you choose to take advantage of the adults only hot tub.

It doesn’t sound like quite the perfect location for, say, young singles or a couple seeking a romantic giveaway, but it’s hard to imagine finding any place in Michigan more suited for families with young children. All this fun comes at a price, though — rates begin around $154.

Thunder Bay at Great Wolf Lodge