Hotels

The first thing I noticed upon walked into my oceanfront room at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Miami Beach was the temperature. It was freezing!  No wonder – when I checked the thermostat it had been cranked down to 50 degrees, probably by housekeepers when they were cleaning the room. I reset it to 72 degrees, then stepped to the window. Nine floors below, the hotel’s lush grounds and pool spread out before me. Beyond a low hedge of Seagrape, an aquamarine ocean softly lapped on the shore and sparkled in the sunshine like a billion tiny jewels. Spectacular!

View from the Holiday Inn Oceanfront in Miami Beach

I could hardly wait to explore the art deco architecture, gorgeous beaches, art galleries and nightlife, but first I needed food. Hoping to salvage enough of the afternoon for a walk on the beach, I crossed the sunny, tropically decorated lobby to the hotel’s Paradise Cafe Restaurant and grabbed a quick bite to eat. It turned out to be the best meal of the entire weekend – quite amazing considering the hundreds of gourmet restaurants in the area. Read More »

I’ve probably said this before, I’m saying it now, and I’ll be sure to say it again. I’m lucky to live in the heart of so many hotels. I have a “thing” for hotels. (It’s a good thing since I write for a hotel blog.) I LOVE staying at hotels.

Recently though, with the arrival of my two girls, I’ve started to really notice hotel pools. When we look for places to stay, one of the first things I look for on the hotel’s web site is the pool and its amenities. It must be awesome. I’m not spending my time at a hotel if it doesn’t have a pool worth visiting with my girls.

Marriott Orlando World Center Pool at Night

The Marriott Orlando World Center Resort just outside of Disney World, touts itself as a “The Hotel with the Best Pool in Orlando.” It’s pretty much like getting a waterpark for FREE included with your hotel stay. With four heated indoor pools and outdoor pools, TWO hotel kids pools, and SIX whirlpools, there’s hardly a reason to leave the hotel since it’s an attraction in itself. And look at that picture above. To me, swimming outside on a warm summer night is near bliss.

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Swine Flu, regular influenza, colds, sinus infections, and more lurk everywhere the public is.  Here are a few tips to keep you healthy while traveling and staying in hotels.  Even the swankiest hotels have germs lurking all over.

The Obvious:

1 ) Wash your hands.  If you aren’t washing your hands before eating, and every time you return from being in public, than you already put yourself at risk for contracting and spreading germs.  My 5 and 10 year old know to wash their hands as soon as we return from the supermarket, the shops or school and I don’t even have to prompt them anymore.  I can’t remember the last time either one of them had a cold.

2 ) Get enough sleep.  It’s sometimes difficult to get enough sleep when you’re flying at odd times or partying it up at a resort.  Try to grab a nap when you can and say no to ‘just one more drink’ at the pool bar.

3 ) Drink enough fluids.  It’s very easy when you’re busy running through an airport or vacationing to become dehydrated.  Try to get your water in where you can.

4 ) Try to get a workout or a walk in every day or every other day that you’re gone.  It will reduce stiffness from traveling, and make you feel better.

5 ) Wear flip-flops in your hotel room, including the shower.  Who knows when the carpet was last cleaned?  Avoid plantar warts and fungus by keeping your feet safe.

The Not-So-Obvious But You’ll Probably Think I’ve Lost My Mind:

6 ) Don’t use the hotel’s hot tub.  Hot tub’s often carry bacteria that cause the skin rash folliculitis.  Not afraid of a pesky skin rash?  Okay, how do you feel about breathing in the bacteria-filled air and developing pneumonia or bronchitis?  How about a UTI?  It’s more common than you think.

7 ) Use your flip flops in the pool.  (See #5)

8 ) Lose the coverlet – put it in the corner.  They are washed about every 6 months, even in the 4 star hotels.  If you are cold, ask for another blanket.  Also, check your bed for bed bugs.  Wear socks, long pants and long sleeved shirts to bed to have minimal contact with the bed.  Bring your own sheets and pillow if you’re able. Do not eat in your bed.

9 ) Never EVER use the glasses provided in the hotel room, even if they are wrapped in paper.  Studies have shown staff cleaning and drying the glasses in the bathroom sink, without soap and with your dirty towel.  The towel you use to dry your body with. Pack a few paper cups to use while you’re staying.  Lastly, skip the ice machine.  They are teeming with germs, and often overlooked in the cleaning process.

10 ) Bring and use sanitizing wipes to wipe down light switches, doorknobs and the remote before you use them.

Photo Credit: Frugal Law Student

Having to fly unexpectedly to Scottsdale, Arizona recently for a family emergency, I found myself scrambling to locate a hotel with enough amenities to satisfy my parents and my wildly diverse siblings with their extended families.  Not being familiar with the area, but wanting to get a hotel with the basics to satisfy me, I can report that the Wingate by Windham in Scottsdale is where I plan to return to whenever I am back in town.

Plush Beds @ Wingate Scottsdale AZ

The Wingate by Wyndham is part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of hotel brands that includes Ramada, Days Inn, Travelodge, Howard Johnson and more.

This Wingate is targeted to the business traveler, with a 24 hour fitness room that I used daily, and a well stocked breakfast set up every morning from 6:00 until 9:00. I stuck to the cereal and eggs, but my sister raved about the “make your own waffles”. With the heat, my brother skipped the gym and used the pool. He swam every morning, reporting to me how nice and clean the water was.

Great Equipment & Television in the 24 Hour Fitness Room

They offer great deals for seniors and AAA members.  We had nicely appointed queen rooms for $89 a night.  My room had two queen beds and huge flat screen LG television.  With my sister in a room on one side of me and my mother on the other side, how quiet my room was at night was perfect.

Neutrogena Products & Fluffy Towels

We all agreed that the Moen Revolution showerhead was a nice perk and my father loved how new the ironing board and iron were. He likes a a very sharp crease in his pants. Each room has a single-cup coffeemaker with Wolfgang Puck coffee that comes in handy if you stay up late like my niece or get up at the crack of dawn, like my mom.

With members of my family unable to drive but needing to get to the mall and other destinations, we were pleasantly surprised by their free shuttle service. They have a few vans available from 7:00 to 7:00 everyday, that will take you anywhere you want to go within a 5 mile radius of the hotel. Amanda, one of the front desk agents drove us a couple of times and expertly got us to our destination. Given my parents back seat driving and the hundred temperatures, I couldn’t tip her enough.

Make Your Own Waffles!

The Phoenix Airport is too far but the Scottsdale Airport is close enough use their free shuttle.  If you need to print your boarding pass, they have a 24 hour Business Center too with free internet access and printer.  The Wingate by Wyndham in Scottsdale has an amazing staff who offered our family so much warmth. If you travel to Scottsdale for business, a round of golf or maybe a girls spa weekend, this hotel is in a great location off the 101 Loop.

All photos taken by my iPhone.

The front desk at Hotel Indigo Sarasota shows off the chain

Guest Post by Leigh Caldwell of ThemeParkMom.

Comfy, casual
Not your daddy’s biz hotel
It’s not stuffy here

So that’s my haiku tribute to the Intercontinental Hotels Group boutique hotel chain, Hotel Indigo.

On a recent stay at the Hotel Indigo Sarasota, I expected to see the color blue (indigo, actually) and the logo’s iconic seashell everywhere, but I was surprised to find a hotel filled with poetry (haiku, actually).

The three-liners are everywhere – on the brochures, in the fitness center and even on the room’s plastic laundry bag. Hotel Indigo says the haiku are designed to surprise, refresh and provide tranquility.

One of the sweetest surprises of my Hotel Indigo stay was a personalized haiku left in my room the evening of my stay, along with a bottle of water and a snack. The front desk staff told me they enjoy writing haiku for the guests, and they often try to base the personalized poems on the industry in which the traveler works.

Location

Hotel Indigo Sarasota sits on Tamiami Trail, across the street from Sarasota

Hotel Indigo Sarasota is just a few minutes’ drive from Sarasota’s downtown and just 10 minutes south of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. It is within walking distance of many of the attractions on Sarasota’s Bayfront and would be the perfect place to stay when visiting the city to attend a performance at Sarasota’ Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The city’s Rosemary District, an area undergoing an urban renewal, is also within walking distance and features locally-owned restaurants and unusual shops for browsing.

If you plan on sticking your toes in the sand on your Sarasota trip, Lido Beach is 10 minutes away. And Dr. Beach’s second best beach in the world, Siesta Beach, is just a 15-20 minute drive.

My travel companions and I had a delightful dinner at the Broadway Bar, three blocks north of the hotel. Though not revealed in the restaurant’s name, this is a true red-sauce Italian mom-and-pop joint, complete with the red-and-white checked tablecloths.

Guest rooms

Guest rooms have laminate wood floors and a comfy casual decor.

The guest rooms at Hotel Indigo Sarasota are not the typical cookie-cutter business hotel. They are spacious, with hardwood floors, comfy beds with a sea of white linens and bold, graphic wall murals.

I stayed in a king suite, which was a large, single room that included a sitting area in addition to the bed. The couch in the sitting area has a pull-out bed for extra guests or children.

an efficient workspace and another graphic wall mural

The workspace was furnished with a comfortable desk, lamp and desk chair with wheels. Free wireless Internet also makes it possible to work in the sitting area or on the bed.

The tranquil feeling continued in the bathroom, which had a huge, tiled walk-in shower with glass walls.

The only thing I found missing in my Hotel Indigo Sarasota room was a closet. There is a wardrobe with hanging space, but on short stays such as this one, I prefer not to unpack much of my clothing, opting to set up my suitcase on a luggage rack in the closet. There was a luggage rack in the room, where I was able to put my suitcase in an unused corner, but I generally prefer to conceal it from view.

Public spaces

The lobby stretches into a casual wine bar/lounge/eatery that I found refreshing after eating in many stuffy hotel dining rooms. The hotel’s kitchen serves a small menu, but it provided plenty of variety in my opinion, with a few appetizer choices, sandwiches and entree salads. There is also a counter to buy potato chips, bakery goods and other snack items to consume in the lounge, your room or the pool area. Room service is also available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A hot tub and cold tub replace the traditional hotel pool at Hotel Indigo Sarasota.

There is not a large pool area at the Hotel Indigo Sarasota. A pleasant space outdoors offers a rectangular hot tub and a cold pool. But the pool is the same size at the hot tub and not made for swimming, only for a dip. I did spend some time in the pool area and found comfortable chairs and shaded tables, as well as a great signal for the hotel’s free wireless Internet. I do not swim frequently on my business travels, and I don’t know any other business traveler who does, but you should know this in advance if you are planning a vacation stay.

The hotel also offers a fitness center just off the pool, equipped with treadmills, ellipticals and weight-lifting equipment.

I am definitely adding Hotel Indigo to my list of preferred brands when traveling. The more casual vibe of this hotel really fits my lifestyle and personality, and I encourage weary road warriors to give it a try.

All photos by the author.

Southernmost on the Beach

So, Key West, Florida isn’t exactly known for its beaches. But, what if you could stay at a hotel that had its own private beach ? I say, who cares if sand isn’t perfect or if the water isn’t crystal clear? Key West, Florida’s Southernmost Hotel on the Beach is a relaxing, luxurious retreat that has nice sand just for its guests. It’s a really beautiful hotel, with very calming surroundings. And, you’ll be within walking distance of famous Duval Street that has many of Key West’s best restaurants, bars, cafes and boutique shops.

There are many things to like about Southernmost Hotel on the Beach. There’s free parking (really surprising to me considering this hotel is a little pricey.) You don’t actually need a car at all – you can walk to everything. Free Internet. A lovely pool. A private beach. The staff is really nice and well-trained. Free chairs to sit on the beach with. A great poolside bar.

What’s not to like? Not too much! Again, the beach is nice, but you’re not in the Bahamas. The “cheapest” rooms are not as large as so might like, but I saw absolutely not problem with them, they were beautiful.

If you’re looking for a luxurious stay in Key West, and don’t mind working out your credit card a bit, definitely check this hotel out. I think you’ll be happy as a hippo, like I was.

Photo Credit: Southernmost on the Beach website

Best Western Hibiscus Key West

This is my third installment about Key West, Florida hotels. And, believe it or not, I am writing very positive things about a Best Western! From my experience, Best Westerns are usually cheaply appointed hotels that are good for nothing else for a bed to sleep in at night. I’ve had some bad experiences at Best Westerns in the past – so many, in fact, that I completely swore off the hotel chain about 4 years ago.

To my pleasant surprise, the Best Western Hibiscus in Key West, Florida is a completely different bird. It’s new-looking, has a large pool that’s a common social gathering (think people sipping drinks poolside), has very large, bright and exceptionally clean rooms, and it’s within walking distance to fun Duval Street. There’s a good, free Continental breakfast too. Honestly, when I first walked in my first thought was “This is a Best Western?”

Here’s the thing. The hotel staff is not enormously helpful. You’ll probably come across an older gentleman at the front desk, with a beard, sort of looks like a sailor, who’s pretty grumpy and not at all forthcoming. That aside, though, our experience was excellent.

Prices are anywhere from $85-$199 a night (really!!), depending on the time of year you book. Definitely not your run of the mill Best Western, and I will for sure be back.

NOTE: Don’t confuse this hotel with the Best Western Key Ambassador, which is farther away from town. That one is nice as well, but a bit more expensive I think, and the rooms aren’t as nicely appointed.

Photo Credit: Best Western Hibiscus website

Sheraton Suites Key West

I was super impressed by my stay at the Sheraton Suites in Key West, Florida this past weekend. First of all, the hotel is being completely remodeled, and they’ve done a really nice job. As soon as you walk in, it feels more like a W hotel than a Sheraton. You’re greeted by refreshing greens and blues, a waterfall wall and orchids placed throughout the lobby. The furniture is dark with clean lines, and the lobby is open and sunny.

The pool area was fine – the pool was a decent size, but there were lots of kids in it. It’s summer, and since the entire property is an all-suite hotel, the rooms are very popular with families.

Now, the best part: the rooms. I couldn’t believe how nice they were! I stayed in a room that had a King bed in one part and an L-shaped couch that pulled out into a Queen bed in the living room. Count them – there were TWO flat screen tv’s, a fridge, a microwave, Starbucks coffee in the room, a laundry basket in the bathroom, what appeared to be granite counter tops in the bathroom and a very large and comfortable common area.

I got a great deal and only paid $139/night, but you can snag rooms here year-round for $169 usually. Some of the rooms have two Queen beds in them, and with the pull-out couch in the living room, you could easily fit six people in there.

There’s a bar by the pool, where mixed drinks are $6-$8. Food by the pool (chicken tenders, salads and such) are a bit pricey, but that’s to be expected. There’s often live entertainment by the pool, too.

Mallory Square in Key West

One of the best parts about this hotel is that it’s right across the street from Smather’s Beach. There’s a free shuttle, too, that leaves every hour for downtown. It drops you off not far from Mallory Square.

I’d definitely stay here again. I’m having a hard time coming up with things to complain about. The only thing is perhaps the pool – I wish there were more than one and that there weren’t so many kids. But, what can you do.

**Please know that for some reason, the pictures on the Sheraton Suites Key West website have not yet been updated to reflect the new renovations. The hotel is now a very modern-looking, fresh hotel with none of those “Key Westy” colors. ***

Photo Credits: Sheraton Suites Key West Website and SwiatekJ

Sheraton Carlsbad

Normally I am a frugal traveler, opting for inexpensive but comfortable lodgings near my destination.  For our family’s trip to Legoland, however, the adjoining Sheraton Carlsbad offered us a significant discount, so we chose to stay there during our visit.  What follows is our true-life experience.

We pulled up to the front door of the Sheraton Carlsbad on a chilly humid evening.  Both of the children were jarred from their sleep, and when I came out to the carport after checking I could hear their screams of dissatisfaction from very far away.  When I turned around, the staff of the hotel had come to the rescue!  They brought out a tiny teddy bear wearing a blue Sheraton robe for each child, calming them down right away.  I nearly swooned with gratitude.

That was my introduction to the hotel, which opened this March.  The lobby is enormous and easy on the eyes with a business center off to the left upon entrance that is hard to miss.  Flower arrangements are made of Legos!  The pool area is a family fun zone, with pool noodles and swim diapers at the ready, and plenty of shallow areas for the little ones.  On the lawns surrounding, outdoor game equipment is laid out for anyone to enjoy.  Bathrooms and showers are close at hand.  It’s incredibly inviting and convenient.

Up in the room, the two big comfy beds gave us plenty of space to spread out.  Unfortunately, the digital television takes a long time to respond to commands, and with two cranky small children who could not wait one more second to be hypnotized by TV, that was frustrating.  Also, there were no surfaces high enough to put forbidden items out of reach of the 2-year-old, so I put those things into the wardrobe, hoping he wouldn’t explore and find them.  I tried unsuccessfully to use the in-room safe, and the climate control never quite worked in our room despite our request for an engineer to come up and lower the temperature.

We appreciated the Starbucks coffee with a single cup brewer that was right there for us to use in the morning.  Now that it was light, we discovered the balcony which was only wide enough to stand or sit, and just the right height of furniture for our children to try and launch themselves overboard, so we didn’t make use of that.

The kids enjoyed making monkey faces in the full-length mirror

The main amenity that attracted us to this location was its proximity to Legoland.  Indeed, there is a special entrance from the Sheraton grounds into the park at the back end that you can get to by walking, but we took advantage of the courtesy shuttle to bring our family and our friends right to the front entrance of the park.  The driver gave us a special card with the number to call to arrange pickup at the end of the day, and off we went for our Legoland adventure.

A little boy looks forward to his big day at Legoland from inside his room at the Sheraton Carlsbad

Traveler beware:  on a Friday night in the summertime (hence the height of the season) at closing time, everyone and their mother (literally) is calling to get a ride back to the Sheraton at the same time.  We called ahead for the shuttle to come in ten minutes.  After several phone calls and 45 minutes of us waiting, trying to decide if we should just walk back instead, Lisa, a concierge at the hotel, grabbed the keys and came and got us herself.  By the time we got back to our room we were tired, dirty, cranky, and starving.  The children were bouncing off the walls and demanding cookies and candy.  The staff took pity on us and sent us dinner at poolside, so at least we were able to relax in the pool and finally get some food.

(Incidentally, the food, while pricey as expected at fancy hotel, was delicious.)

In concept, the courtesy shuttle to Legoland is a perfect idea.  Where else would you want to stay if convenience and luxury are your top priorities?  (Those, and an awesome pool.)  All of it is close to the beach, so not only do you get fancy hotel pool and Legoland, you get some local flavor and oceanside exploration as well.  Just be aware that you might have to, well, wait a while, and that it might be worth it just to walk.

Duval Street in Key West

Looking for an amazing value for a hotel in Key West, Florida? Check out The Inn at Key West! I was researching hotels for my wedding next year and came across this one. I happened to get an amazing deal of $109/night due to a pricing mistake on the website, but I also just booked a room for $89/night for a scouting trip next week (stay tuned for updates about how the hotel actually is). Here’s what I know so far, which is why I’m so excited about this hotel:

It’s cheap!

Good-quality, cheaper hotels are pretty tough to find during high season in Key West, and this hotel starts out with rooms for about $130/night in high season. That’s very reasonable. If you book during summer, you can snag rooms for as low as $89/night like I did. And, many rooms come with two Queen beds, so you can accommodate two couples easily.

Away From Duval Street Craziness

The Inn at Key West is about 3 miles away from downtown Key West, which can actually be a good thing. Duval Street can be nuts, so if you’re looking for a quieter retreat, you’ve found it.

Largest Freshwater Pool in Key West!

Yep – check out the pics on the website, the pool looks amazing.

Great Food and Drinks Poolside

You can grab breakfast and lunch poolside. Rumor has it that the pina coladas are must-haves.
So there you have it! I’ll report back next week after my stay to see if this hotel lives up to the hype.

Photo Credit: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar