Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in the US West want you to drop off your pajamas for their ‘Open Your Heart’ Valentine’s campaign.

These Northern California hotels have teamed up with Pajama Program and hope to collect thousands of new pajamas, books and cash donations from guests, employees and community members on Feb 11, 2011. The collected loot will be handed over to philanthropic organizations in each hotel’s host communities.

Pajama Program

Pajama Program is a non-profit that provides comfort and love in the form of new pajamas to children-in-need and those waiting for a permanent home.

Pallie Zambrano, co-president of Pajama Program’s Northern California chapter, says that “By providing pajamas we help to create a warm and nurturing bedtime environment for vulnerable youngsters living under difficult circumstances.”

The properties taking part in this PJ drive include some of the most romantic hotels in San Francisco, San Jose, Sonoma, Newport Beach and Santa Monica. Those who can and want to donate should stop off at one of the below listed hotels on Feb 11, 2011, between 6 am to 10 am.

Fairmont San Francisco – 950 Mason Street San Francisco CA 94108

Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square – 900 North Point Street San Francisco CA 94109

Fairmont San Jose – 170 South Market Street San Jose CA 95113

Fairmont Newport Beach – 4500 MacArthur Blvd. Newport Beach CA 92660

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows – 101 Wilshire Boulevard Santa Monica CA 90401

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa – 100 Boyes Boulevard Sonoma CA 95476

Some of the participating hotels are planning to motivate people to ‘open your heart’ and contribute by holding drawings for sleepovers. 

The winners will get a one night complimentary stay, along with Fairmont bathrobes, slippers and teddy bears. Even if you don’t get the sleepover, everyone who turns up is still going to be rewarded with a free cookie.

The Fairmont San Francisco also has a ‘Love Is In the Air’ Valentine’s Day package which includes a one-night stay, choice of Champagne brunch in Laurel Court or Mimosas & Breakfast in Bed, and complimentary overnight parking.

Photo – Pajama Program

More info: www.pajamaprogram.org; www.facebook.com/PajamaProgramCA

Related posts:-
I Left My Heart in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel
Romantic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in San Francisco

As the San Francisco Giants take on the Texas Rangers, fans for both teams are making last-ditch plans to invade enemy territory. Hotels in Dallas are having a ball milking Giants fans, and San Francisco hotels likewise have hiked rates well above normal.

2010 World Series

Here’s a few world series hotel packages, featuring hotels in both cities that know how to respect and treat baseball fans, regardless of which team they support.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas:  Sunday and Monday night guests wearing a Texas Rangers or San Francisco Giants cap or other apparel item when checking into The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas will receive a certificate for one complimentary breakfast to be enjoyed either in-room or at Fearing’s Restaurant.

In addition to all kinds of baseball themed food and drinks, Fearing’s will also honor visitors from San Francisco with a house cioppino inspired by northern California’s fresh seafood delicacies. The in-room menu features smoked Texas pecans with ice-cold Anchor Steam beer from San Francisco.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas also has baseball concierges at the ready to answer guest questions about games, teams, players, TV broadcasts and baseball history. Also, the hotel spa is offering a special 50 min sports-lovers’ World Series wind-down massage during Texas game dates that includes a complimentary choice of Texas or California beer.

The Westin Park Central, Dallas: World Series package includes free breakfast (for a family of four) and free transportation to and from Arlington Stadium.

Larkspur Hotels, San Francisco: The three Larkspur hotels (Villa Florence, Abri & Larkspur Union Square) are offering a World Series special with 10% off the best available rate plus a free upgrade at check-in. Use promo code BALL for online bookings.

The Westin St. Francis, San Francisco: They don’t have a world series package per se, but this Union Square hotel has something better – the Texas Rangers, who are staying at the hotel. It’s good enough for the Rangers, so fans should have no complaints. Besides, what better way to show your support?

Photo – Red3biggs

snazzy lobby GoBoard

I live in the South Bay but wish I lived in San Francisco, so any weekend that I can spend in the city is a treat. This is why when I recently had the opportunity to stay as a guest of the Courtyard Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf to see their recent remodel and share my experience with UpTake readers, I jumped at the chance.

Prior to my stay:
My impression of Courtyard Marriott was that of a reasonably-priced and dependable hotel option that is popular with families.

After my stay:
My impression of Courtyard Marriott was still that it is a reasonably-priced and dependable option (as you would expect from a brand like Marriott).  But, it offers much more. I was pleasantly surprised by the modern lobby, friendly service and the bright, spacious and well-appointed rooms. It does seem like a great hotel for families, but also a great option for business travel, romantic getaways or a vacation with friends. I saw all of these types of travelers while milling around the lobby.

The Fisherman’s Wharf location has upgraded to their new state-of-the-art lobby. You can check out the features of their new lobby, here. Upon checking in, I noticed the very warm yet city-chic decor. There were numerous sitting areas where guests were using the hotel’s free-wifi (big plus in my book) or reading a magazine.

The coolest new lobby feature was the GoBoard. This was an expansive flat screen computer monitor on the wall of the lobby with local weather and news information for San Francisco. It had an interactive touch screen that pulled up maps and allowed you to search for restaurants and things to do in the area; even showing you how to get there from the hotel. I felt like I’d been projected  into the future!

comfortable and spacious rooms

As I said, the room was quite nice with a large sitting area, multi-use desk space and a large LCD HDTV. My favorite feature was the bed, however. The sheets were silky soft and the pillow-top mattress had me snoring through the alarm the next morning.

While I usually prefer to stay in San Francisco’s smaller and quieter neighborhoods, the location at Fisherman’s Wharf made everything very convienent. The hotel is within walking distance of lots of popular restaurants and bars in North Beach as well as along the water. It is also near to many popular tourist attractions like Pier 39, the Aquarium and the ferry to Alcatraz. I sat with my coffee and a newspaper on Sunday morning in a nearby park with views of Golden Gate Bridge and watched the trolly cars go by. Not a bad way to spend your weekend!

Overall, I would say that the Courtyard Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf is savvy to a modern traveler’s needs. Its new look is attempting to blends style, convenience, technology and comfort quite seamlessly and I would say, successfully!

Photo credits to the Courtyard Marriott website

My brother-in-law and his wife are expecting their first child at the end of May. It’s the first grandchild on both sides, so the whole family is pretty “over the moon” about it.

The happy couple have been talking about a different kind of moon — a babymoon, which is an often romantic trip that expectant parents take near the due date (although not too near!) You could call it a last hurrah before the baby arrives and distracts them from everything else, including each other, for the next 18 years.

Of course they asked me for hotel recommendations, and of course I had some! Here are my top 5 ideas for a fabulous Northern California (no flying so close to the due date) pre-baby weekend getaway, moving from South to North: Read More »