Hotels

The luxurious Hotel Pacific, Monterey, California

If you’re an art lover looking for a holiday getaway on the windswept coast of Monterey, California, then Hotel Pacific and Monterey Museum of Art have the perfect package for you!

The ‘Mini-Me’ package celebrates the Museum’s annual holiday showcase of small masterpieces – 7”x9” or smaller paintings, photographs, prints, drawings and sculptures – donated by the artists for auction. Read More »

If you happen to be in San Francisco, and see a balloon with a golden key heading your way, then you might want to hold on to the key. The Golden Key will open the doors to a free 3-night stay in the Presidential Suite at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, along with dinner and breakfast for two.

Palace Hotel, San Francisco

That’s because the Palace, one of the most luxurious and historic hotels in San Francisco, is celebrating it’s centennial anniversary this year, having reopened on Dec 15, 1909 after a massive renovation and patchup in the wake of the great earthquake of 1906.

Exactly 100 years ago today, a golden key was taken to the roof, attached to five colorful gas-filled balloons and sent skyward. The plan was for the key to float out over the Pacific Ocean. But the winds changed and the key headed toward Oakland.

So now they’re recreating history by ‘redoing’ the balloon gig. If you can make it there today, you can gather in front of the Palace Hotel, street level, on New Montgomery and Stevenson to view the launch of the gold key.

There’s also a ‘Gold Key Anniversary’ special in the hotel’s bar from 3:00 PM on December 15, 2009.  Guests can enjoy a Sirloin Burger & a Beer for just $19.09. The Golden Key will be launched between 3-4 pm on Dec 15, 2009.

The Hotel offers 553 guest rooms, including 34 suites – 30 one and two-bedroom suites, the Ambassador Suite, the Chancellor’s Suite, the Governor’s Suite and the Presidential Suite. You also get an indoor heated swimming pool, 3 restaurants and a fitness center.

Photo courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Info: 2 New Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94105;  (415) 512-1111; www.sfpalace.com/

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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree - New York

Christmas is barely three weeks away, and if you’re like me, one of the greatest joys of the season is admiring beautifully decorated Christmas trees. You can find all sorts of them displayed in outside environments, but don’t forget to duck inside some hotels! Christmas is an incredibly busy season for most hotels, and many go to great lengths to provide awe-inspiring Christmas displays. Check out some of the following hotels for their gorgeous Christmas trees this season – they’re perfect opportunities to add a little holiday cheer to your family or romantic outing.

What other hotels do you have to add? Please comment!

Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, CA - Christmas Ice Skating!

1.  The Hotel Del Coronado – San Diego, California

I used to visit this hotel’s beautiful tree every year when I lived in San Diego. It’s usually around 50 feet tall, and is decorated with the pretties ribbons, bows and ornaments. By the way, did you know that the country’s first outdoor, electrically lit Christmas tree was at the Hotel Del Coronado in 1904? The hotel has a grand tradition of Christmas trees. You can go ice skating, too, at this hotel – outdoors, overlooking the beach and ocean.

2. M Resort Spa and Casino – Las Vegas, Nevada

This resort is brand spankin’ new, and on December 12 it will unveil an 109-foot tall White Fir Christmas tree. That’s really, really big – to provide some perspective, the Rockefeller Center tree is generally around 80 feet tall, so this one towers over that!

3.  The Inn at Christmas Place – Piegon Forks, Tennessee

I blogged about this hotel last year because it was so unusual – it’s Christmas here year-round! You can even request a room that has your very own Christmas tree. You’ll see Christmas throughout this Victorian themed hotel, all decorated differently.

The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana

4. Roosevelt Hotel – New Orleans, Louisiana

This hotel was devastated during Hurricane Katrina, and after$145 million in renovations, it is finally open again to the public and is featuring its gorgeous Christmas displays once again, including a host of Christmas trees.

Photos: Ewen and Donabel, armatoj, infrogmation

Ever dreamed the dream of becoming a famous rockstar or singer? If you have, but never got beyond karaoke and the shower, here’s your big chance. The Mosser Hotel is going where no San Francisco hotels have gone before – free recording sessions for guests at the hotel’s own recording studio.

The Mosser Hotel, San Francisco

Book their Holiday Tunes package and you get luxe accommodations, 1 hour of recording time in the state-of-the-art recording studio (with Engineer), a CD of your recordings, and a box of chocolates upon check-in. Rates from $165.

If you like the sound of your own voice, then you can up the ante and book into the Musicians package, which offers a four hour session at the studio, along with the hotel room.

For other guests worried about the racket caused by amateur musicians and wannabe rock bands, not to worry – Mosser’s rooms are secured with double-double pane windows to ensure a quiet nights sleep.

The Mosser Hotel, located just 4 blocks from Union Square, first opened in 1913 as the Keystone Hotel. In 1981, Charles W. Mosser purchased the hotel and it was renamed as The Mosser after a massive renovation in 2003, and the hotel now offers a modern interior and chic rooms with an eye-catching Victorian exterior.

The Mosser studio is called Studio Paradiso, and is located adjacent to the hotel and Annabelle’s Bar and Bistro. The studio normally charges $60/hour. More details here.

Photo courtesy Mosser Co.

Info: 54 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103; (415) 986-4400; www.themosser.com/

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Palm Springs, Ca - the desert

Escape to Palm Springs this winter for some sunny skies, warm(er) weather and some truly amazing prices at one of the area’s loveliest hotels – the Riviera Resort & Spa. It’s only a few miles away from downtown Palm Springs, and the whole area has things to do for all seasons including the fabulous Living Desert Museum. This resort is perfect for romantic getaways (though beware, many weddings are held here!), girlfriend getaways and “why not” vacations. The pool area is fantastic – large with plenty of seating, and a fire pit. The pool area gets crowded on weekends, so get there early!

If you purchase your rooms this weekend, you can snag a terrific $119 rate for Sunday-Thursday and for $139 on weekends. You can book these rates for stays between now and January 20, 2010! But hurry, this rate expires on Sunday, November 22 at midnight.

The Riviera Resort also has a promotion going on which can save you up to 40% off of current rates – if you want to stay between January 10 and March 31, 2010, and you get the 40% off rate. And, between now and December 31, 2009, you can save 30% off rates so long as you book seven days in advance. The hotel also offers 20% off rates if you book two or more nights.

You’ll love the newly decorated interiors and grounds! The hotel’s interior keeps with the “Rat Pack” design and lighting, very old Hollywood.

Photo: Kurisu

Madonna Inn

I asked a friend recently to tell me about their most memorable hotel experience.   “The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California,” he said without hesitation.  “They have caveman rooms!”

As it turns out, the Madonna Inn offers a variety of themed suites to fulfill just about every vacation fantasy.  Inspiration for the 110 themed suites ranges from merry-go-rounds to Yosemite National Park’s Bridal Veil Falls.  Sixteen of these suites include a unique “rock shower” and fourteen include in-room waterfalls!

Read More »

Looking for cheap hotels in San Diego? It’s not a question of place, but of time - and the best time to book is now, in between Nov 13-26, which is San Diego Hotel Week.

Sheraton La Jolla, San Diego

Some 50 odd participating hotels are offering upto 50% off, and one all suite luxury hotel is even offering a $15 stay for the 2nd night. Some of these deals are exclusive to the San Diego Hotel Week website. Here’s the best of the lot.

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa:- 50% off – Offer limited to SDHW site. Book by November 26, 2009 and stay before December 30, 2009. More details here.

La Jolla Cove Suites:- They’re celebrating their 50th anniversary, and if you book your first night at the published room rate, you get the second night for $15. And they’ll greet you with a complimentary chilled bottle of champagne upon arrival. More details here.

Se Sandiego:- 45% off, $25 credit for the Spa and a $25 food & beverage credit. More details here.

Sheraton La Jolla:- Rates from $99. And 3rd night free. Valid until Dec 30, 2009. They also have another neat offer, where you pay second or third night rates equal to your birth year (If you were born in 1948, you’ll receive your 2nd and 3rd nights at $48). More details here.

Oh, and if you’re planning to buy tickets online for the San Diego Zoo, use the SDHW promo code 7802 and you’ll get $4 off on the tickets. There’s a bucketload of discounted tickets for other San Diego attractions, and special prices for restaurants with three-course prix fixe meals for $40.

To see details of all the hotel deals, restaurants and discounted attraction tickets being offered for San Diego Hotel Week, visit www.sandiegohotelweek.com/

Photo courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, California

The dramatic architecture of the Hyatt Regency balconies, with the iconic Transamerica Pyramid in the background, makes them a part of the view on a rare fog-free day in San Francisco.

Photo credit: C. Lincoln

Living Room Bar, W Hotel Times Square New York

You know how cool the bar scene is at the W?

No, I don’t need to specific which city, because they’re all uber-cool. From LA to Sydney, Australia, to Bryant Park, New York City.

The W is so cool that they can set up a lounge in a tent, at Fashion Week, (a.k.a. the epi-center of cool) and still create that dark, euro-bar ambiance, complete with Mickey Rourke breaking morals clauses in a corner. And balance it with Rachel Bilson bringing the class quotient right back up to spectacular in another corner.

How badly do you want to be there, right?

One of the talents of the W team is the ability to create a mood with music. They value this aspect of their brand so much that they just hired runway and music-show programmer Michaelangelo L’Acqua, to be their music director.

According to USA Today, L’Acqua has been hired to build relationships between the hotel chain and the music industry. One thing we can probably anticipate is lots of celebrity musician sightings at W lounges around the world. Let’s hope that also means more  Celebrity Hotel of the Week missives (written by the celebutastic Karl Erikson) starring various W Hotels!

Chateau Marmont, by Alan Light

HOTEL SITE

Jesse Spencer of House

CELEBS SPOTTED: Clare Danes, Christopher Lloyd, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Allen, Demi Moore, Anthony Kiedis, David Cook, Robert Deniro, Dita Von Teese, Jesse Spencer, Josh Hartnett, Eliza Dushku, Zac Effron, Rosario Dawson, Leonardo, DiCaprio, Katy Perry

Originally built as apartments in the late ’20s, Chateau Marmont in Hollywood became a hotel in 1931 and it’s been a celebrity hot-spot ever since. Infamous because it’s where the late, great John Belushi died in 1982, it’s never stopped the stars from hanging out.

Everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Jim Morrison to James Dean to Lindsay Lohan has spent time at the Chateau Marmont. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have even recorded songs there.

Private terraces and balconies abound at the Chateau Marmont

The founder of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn, once said, “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.” I don’t want trouble, really, just to live it up in the manner to which I’d like to become accustomed.

Where the stars sleep

There are 63 rooms, cottages, and bungalows at the Chateau, many of which have full kitchens. Yeah, there’s something to be said for apartment buildings that have been converted into hotels. Since the hotel was built to be earthquake-proof (and has survived quite a few of them), the walls are all rather thick – even soundproof – so if you’re looking to host a party, this might be the perfect place.

Living it up Chateau style

Junior Suites with a queen-sized bed, kitchen, and dining area start at $480 a night. A Two-Bedroom Suite with queen bed, twin beds, dining room, kitchen, and private balcony (overlooking the pool) begins at $835 a night. Bungalows range from $520-$1,800 a night.

The Suite Life at Chateau Marmont

And the Penthouse? You can get a one-bedroom with king-sized bed, living room with hardwood floors, formal dining room, kitchen, and two private patio terraces for a mere $2,200 per night. The two-bedroom penthouse includes working fireplace and goes for only $3,700 a night. The views from the penthouse? Spectacular. Sigh, yeah, when I’m rich and famous, I suppose.

The hotel features amenities such as a heated pool, free wifi, cashmere throws, maid service (twice a day, because clearly you’re that filthy), and even a 24-hour shoe shine. I don’t know about you, but that’s a long time to spend shining my shoes. I have things to do!

The Bar Marmont is famous for its ambiance and cuisine, as well as being one of the favorite places for celebs to be seen. Highly recommended you make reservations, of course, because otherwise you’re likely to be shut out and forced to hit an In-and-Out Burger, not that that’s a bad thing. But when you’re expecting high-class and cool, a burger joint may be a bit of a let-down.

Bar Marmont

Katy Perry hanging at the Chateau Marmont

Of course, there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the Chateau Marmont. There’s the Curry Palace and Sunset Thai, amongst many others. It’s Hollywood, after all.

If it’s good enough for the old-school stars like Clark Gable, as well as the newbies such as Katy Perry, the Chateau Marmont is good enough for you. And if it’s not, I don’t know if we can be friends when I’m all big and famous.

Photo Credits

Top photo by Alan Light