Hotel Monteleone

A trip to New Orleans is, in part, a trip to the past. The locals embrace the roots of their culture as much as the traditions themselves, and time itself seems to slow down a little in order to prevent yesterday from ever getting too far away from today. A visit to the French Quarter especially demands that you forget, at least temporarily, about any visions of the future as you revel in the history.

The Hotel Monteleone stands in the French Quarter as a sentinel of that history. While national chains have hung their logos on historic buildings all over the city, one family has been operating the Hotel Monteleone since 1886. In the ornate lobby, you can see photos of past generations’ owners hanging on the wall and hear stories of employees who’ve been with the family for as many as 50 years.

It is perhaps this deep family tradition that accounts for the legendary service at the Hotel Monteleone. The same employees who remember guest names, open doors, and help with bags today were offered job security and ongoing compensation after Hurricane Katrina, even though businesses all over town had to lay off workers during renovations. It’s no wonder you feel a sense of loyalty and pride from the staff, whether you’re asking for directions or saddling up to the legendary Carousel Bar for a merry-go-round of drinks.

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This past week saw the opening of Hotel Indigo San Antonio at the Alamo. Located across from the historic Alamo, this new property joins San Antonio Riverwalk as the second Hotel Indigo in the San Antonio, Texas market.

Hotel Indigo San Antonio at the Alamo Exterior

Honoring the tradition of San Antonio’s rich past, the Hotel Indigo San Antonio at the Alamo is located in the heart of downtown in the historic Gibbs Building. The 100-year-old building has been renovated into a 91-room property, including seven suites, while still retaining all of its original wood work and marble.  The historic area features the city’s best in entertainment, seasonal events, dining and unique shopping experiences. Read More »

Aimed at travelers who enjoy the unique charm that 300 years of history provide, combined with luxury activities and services, Concord’s Colonial Inn has launched a suite of new travel packages giving customers the opportunity to take a mini vacation that feels like a substantial get away.

Guest accommodation in the main inn, this one with king size bed

As more Americans recharge with mini vacations, Concord’s Colonial Inn has teamed with local spas, historic attractions and its own award-winning restaurants to cater to demand. Guest rooms are located in the original building, which dates to 1716, and provides an authentic Colonial experience, complete with (sloping) wood floors, exposed beams and period accents. Read More »

View from Room 1473 at Boston Park Plaza Hotel

We were in Boston, Massachusetts visiting friends and family recently. We found that the historic Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in the Back Bay area of town was perfect for us. This hotel is close to shops on Newbury Street, the subway and good restaurants. It is also walking distance to Chinatown. It reminded me of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, California.

The Boston Park Plaza Hotel sits on a corner lot, on 57,651 square feet. The building was originally built with 1300 rooms, with private baths. What made the hotel famous at the time was the concept of putting a a free radio in every room. I found the “servidoor” panel interesting. It is a feature that allowed the valet to deliver laundry without disturbing the guest or requiring a tip. We thought it added a nice old world touch to the hotel room door.

We booked our room ahead of time and prepaid which gave us a 20% discount.  When we checked in, we also asked the front desk if they had nice rooms and Jamie who helped us said ” yes we have really nice rooms, let me see what I can find for you”.  For no extra price she put us in Room 1473, a really large corner room called the Columbus Suite. Read More »