Hotels

Must be the weather. Or maybe the holiday spirit.  The Blue Bay Inn in Atlantic Highlands, NJ is offering 23 suites to people for free – If you’ve lost your job – as part of a ‘Hotel for the Holidays’ promotion. And they want your resume, so they can help you find a job.

Blue Bay Inn, NJ

Here’s the deal – You get to stay free for 2 days on Jan 2 & 3, 2010, if you can prove you lost your job in the last 3 months. The stay also includes a reception cocktail party, and a job-seekers workshop.

The hotel’s manager – Robert hilton, has been contacting companies who are looking to hire workers and the hotel is going to put up applicants’ resumes on the hotel website (without the names), hoping that some of the companies will go through the resumes and short-list candidates for interviews.

Here’s what you do, if you’ve been let go, and you’re interested. Prepare a cover letter explaining why you want to be included in the Blue Bay Inn’s free-stay+job event. Mail it the hotel, alongwith your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, a current resume and a notarized copy of proof of unemployment benefits. Send it to Hotel for the Holidays, 51 1st Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716.

Last date for submissions is Dec 1, 2009. Open to all legal residents of the 50 US states aged 18 and above. The rules are explained here. For more information, contact Robert Hilton (General Manager) at 732-708-9600 or check out the hotel’s website.

The Blue Bay Inn is a boutique hotel on the Jersey shore, just minutes from the beaches of Sandy Hook and 40 minutes by ferry to Manhattan. They have 23 suites and 4 apartments for extended-stays.

Photo courtesy Blue Bay Inn

Info: 51 First Avenue Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716; (732) 708-9600; www.bluebayinn.com/

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4th of July Fireworks

guest post by Sherry Gray

It’s that time of year again, when the sky explodes with Fourth of July fireworks, an exuberant visual celebration equaled only by New Year’s Eve displays. Americans have celebrated their Independence with fireworks every year since 1776, and the stirring sight never fails to impress even the staunchest among us. To celebrate in comfort and style, consider staying at a hotel overlooking the grandest displays in the country.

Known for their lavish celebratory style, Macy’s sponsors New York’s incredible fireworks show over the Hudson River. For an unbeatable view, two hotels stand out:

New York City Fireworks by Macy

New York’s Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park offers a panoramic view of the Hudson and overlooks the Statue of Liberty. Package prices start at $375 per couple, and the luxury is legendary.  Details that make the Harbor View room the best choice in the land include an in-room telescope, the Statue of Liberty captured in handmade chocolate, and a pair of ferry tickets to Ellis Island. Since President Obama has promised that Lady Liberty’s torch will reopen to the public on July 4th for the first time since September of 2001, this year’s celebration will be extra special.

A new contender for the view is the W Hoboken. Across the river on the New Jersey side, the W boasts a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline from Frank Sinatra’s hometown of Hoboken. With package prices starting at $249, it’s a little easier on the wallet.

Fireworks in Washington DC

Where better to celebrate the nation’s independence than in the Capitol? The most luxury for the best value can be found at the Willard InterContinental Washington. Built in 1850, this elegant colonial style hotel is known as the ‘Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania Avenue’ and is listed with the national registry of historic places. It’s also a prime location for viewing the fireworks over the reflecting pool at the base of the Washington Monument.

Another great Fourth of July destination is the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.   With room prices starting at just $150 per night, you can soak up the historic ambiance in luxurious style, attend a free concert, visit the Betsey Ross house and check out the Liberty Bell.

Mount Rushmore by day

Few sights are as impressive as the annual fireworks extravaganza over Mount Rushmore. The Roosevelt Inn, located at the base of Mount Rushmore offers close proximity at a very reasonable rate. For the best view, they advise a trip to the Grand Terrace at the visitor center inside the park.

Fireworks in Florida

For fireworks on any given day of the year, the best destination in the U.S. might be the Royal Plaza in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Some of the most technologically advanced fireworks on the planet light up every night, launched from both Disney World and Epcot Center, making Lake Buena Vista the center of the daily celebration. At around $100 per night, the Royal Plaza offers affordable luxury and gets bonus points for being a Green Lodging hotel, one of the first area hotels to undertake environmental initiatives designed to protect Florida’s natural resources.

Jersey City, New Jersey

I just caught an old episode of The Sopranos and I was once again struck by the fact that this city is almost always portrayed in such a negative light. Mafia, crime, rough neighborhoods…surely there must be some redeeming qualities to this city? It’s a silly question, because of course there are. Just take a look at some of romantic hotels I’ve found in New Jersey! Ok, so most of them aren’t in downtown Jersey, but they’re in the state.

The Queen Victorian Bed & Breakfast Inn is, quite frankly, the type of house which makes me feel as though I was born in the wrong century. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s in Cape May, a quaint and too perfect coastal town. You even get treated to afternoon tea, just like they do in England! Cape May is a very romantic town – you can stroll on the beach, walk amongst the dozens of antique stores and book stores or grab a bite to eat in a small cafe.

Cape May, New Jersey

Up for a little gambling and nightlife excitement? The Borgata Hotel Casino could be perfect for your romantic getaway then. It’s one of Atlantic City’s newest casinos, and if you’re in New Jersey, Atlantic City is not to be missed. The Borgata is rumored to have a fabulous spa. If gambling is your thing, you’re in luck – plenty of games to choose from in the hotel itself, and if you want even more variety just step outside and explore the other hotels! I’ve heard the bathrooms are supposed to be very large, which earns huge points with me. There’s music playing underwater in the pool!

The Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson sounds intriguing as well. This hotel is more in the “nitty gritty city” but it’s got beautiful views of the Hudson and of New York City. It’s a solid four star hotel with a great restaurant on site, and you can take a ferry with your honey to go see the Statue of Liberty.

And when in Jersey…you can always take the “Sopranos Tour,” which takes you to some of the show’s most popular sites and landmarks. It’s a fun thing to do as a couple!

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Photo Credits: Oquendo, Allie Caulfield, Anzman Consulting