There’s no shortage of art hotels choc-a-bloc full of priceless art and antiques, but the Museum Hotel in Wellington, NZ goes the extra mile to satisfy even the most nitpicky art critic. 

Museum Hotel & Te Papa, Wellington, NZ

Not only is it named the Museum Hotel and offers art tours of the 70+ art works in the premises, but they also offer a professionally created guide for the hotel’s art collection, comprised mostly of paintings by artists from New Zealand.

The hotel’s owner – businessman Chris Parkin, commissioned Lynne Sandri, one of the local artists whose work is showcased by the hotel, to create the art guide for the hotel. The guide even maps out a one hour walking art tour to see the artwork.

To make the experience even more of an artfest, the Museum Hotel is located directly across from New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa.

And here’s something new – the hotel was actually on the current site of Te Papa, on the other side of the road. In 1993, the 5 storey, 3500 ton structure was picked up off its foundations and moved to the other side to make room for the museum.

As for the accomodations, the boutique hotel offers 165 guest rooms with king-size beds, oversize bath towels, a refrigirated private bar and views overlooking Wellington Harbour.

Facilities include two bars and a restaurant named Hippopotamus which offers French cuisine,  an indoor heated pool and a Cathy Davys spa.

Photos by miss_rogue

 Info: 90 Cable St Wellington 6011 NZ; +64 4 802 8900; www.museumhotel.co.nz/

The indoor pool at the Marriot Courtyard in Niagara Falls

When our oldest son’s hockey coach did his research on the best place for the entire team to stay during a Niagara Falls tournament last year, he analyzed 10 hotels in the area and as a group, we decided on the Marriott Courtyard.

For the group discounted rate we managed to secure, the Marriott Courtyard was at the edge of the main streets leading into Niagara Falls excitement and the kids were in awe of their surroundings. Once done at the rinks for the day, all the families ventured into the museums and attractions at night, and all were within a few minutes walking distance.

The standard room with two queen-sized beds provides ample room for families.

As hockey parents lugging equipment, suitcases, younger siblings and all that comes with them, we were overly impressed with the fact that there was more than enough ample parking in such a busy area of town.  The rooms were enormous of a family of four, and ours came with two queen sized beds.  There was more than enough space to spread out hockey equipment between games and the list of things for families to do is long if you’re so inclined and don’t mind spending a few bucks in this tourist mecca.

The staff at the Marriott was ready for anything.  They were courteous and patient with so many kids running around (we weren’t the only tourney parents there and there were a ton of kids in the hotel).  While they didn’t staff the pool with a lifeguard, the staff that did pop in stopped any kids from horsing around in the pool, employing a hands off policy so you know, nobody drowned.  Knowing how the hockey team likes to play wrestle, I was grateful they couldn’t do it in the pool.

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar inside the hotel offered up a breakfast spread that made the boys go wild.  Everything little boys could ever want was there for the taking and the coffee was delicious.

Lastly, the entire staff all seemed to be extremely familiar with the area and were instrumental in getting us to our arenas on time.

We’re looking at Niagara Falls again this year for our hockey tournament and I sure hope we stay at the Marriott again.  It was a 5 star in terms of convenience, customer service and low stress for hockey moms and dads, which is especially good for a 3 star hotel.

Photos credit: Marriott Courtyard

Related: Clean, Affordable Hotel near Niagara Falls

by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels

“If these walls could only talk,” I thought as I walked into the lobby of the Linden Row Inn. I was in Richmond, Virginia for a writer’s conference and, sight unseen, had made reservations at this historic hotel at the suggestion of conference organizers. As it was located in the slightly dilapidated – yet reawakening – city center, I expected another run-of-the-mill, seedy hotel. Instead, I found eight Greek Revival row houses that have been lovingly restored and converted to a 70-room hotel.

Linden Row Inn, looking toward historic row houses

The moment I set foot in the Linden Row I was transported back to the nineteenth century, when Richmond was the capital of the confederacy. Wooden rockers line the interior balconies, wrought iron tables and chairs dot the red brick paved courtyard, and antique leather sofas and chairs in the Parlor Lounge tempt guests to while away the hours with a book and a glass of wine. Guest rooms, many with original windows nearly reaching to 12-foot ceilings, are filled with antiques and reproductions from the Victorian and Empire periods, yet the facility has bowed to modern times by providing cable TV with premium channels, coffeemakers, clock radios, and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Read More »