View across the river to River Street at Westin Savannah

Savannah’s Historic District and River Street are popular destinations for tourists in the South East United States. Visitors will find charming shops, inviting squares, and restaurants serving local blue crab in every form imaginable. There are also a number of hotels to choose from among the old buildings and narrow streets.

I recently visited Savannah to enjoy the legendary St. Patrick’s Day celebration and stayed at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. My girlfriends and I found the location convenient, the staff hospitable, and the accommodations exactly what we’d hoped for when we selected the well-known brand. Even Risk Management was polite when they knocked on our door in the wee hours of the morning to ask us to keep our laughter down out of respect for our neighbors. (Oops!)

The Westin Savannah is located across the bridge from the famed River Street. While this may seem like a deterrent for visitors looking to spend most of their trip along the tourist-friendly strip, we actually found our location more convenient than a hotel directly in the Historic District might have been. We had free parking in a large lot and free ferry access all day and night to River Street. The ferry ride itself was not only convenient, but a soothing and beautiful experience. If we were ever too impatient to wait for a ferry (the lines were very long on the morning of the St. Patrick’s Day parade), the hotel staff helped us arrange for a quick taxi ride across the bridge.

The river-side room was very spacious with two Heavenly Beds® and a Heavenly® Bath with Dual Shower Heads that I felt too guilty to use (thanks to the environmental reminder note hanging in the shower). The view of the harbor itself was breathtaking, even if the tugboat horns at 3 am were annoying to my roommates. We also enjoyed a view of the newly renovated pool area which looked inviting. The pool area is surrounded by intimate seating areas, some of which are centered around gas fireplaces that can be used by guests in the evenings.

After spending two nights at The Westin Savannah for our girlfriend getaway, the four of us agreed that this was a great hotel for any trip to Savannah. We’d all highly recommend it to the rest of our friends and future St. Patrick’s Day revelers! Check out their website for current specials or ask the hotel representative about discounts when you call to make your reservation. We saved over $100 on regular rates during a holiday weekend thanks to a helpful customer service representative who told us about their “Pay Rates Equal to Your Birth Year!” special.

Photo by Britt Reints

The Holiday Inn and Suites in Alexandria

Are you sick and tired of paying baggage fees every time that you fly?  They can certainly add up.  The InterContinental Hotels Group has your answer this fall, with their “Say Goodbye to Luggage Fees” promotion!  With an eligible weekend stay from now through December 30, 2010, you can get a rebate of your baggage fees up to $50.

The InterContinental Hotels Group includes such popular and widespread brands as Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Express by Holiday Inn, Intercontinental Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites.

Here’s how the promotion works.  First, book a weekend stay at any of the 4,500 properties operated by the InterContinental Hotel Group worldwide.  You must pay for your stay using a Visa card, and you must be a US resident to be eligible.  Then, visit the rebate website to download the rebate form.

You will need to keep some of your paperwork from your stay in order to process your rebate.  If you pay through the IHG.com website or at the hotel, you’ll need your hotel bill showing your travel dates and your method of payment.  You’ll also need to keep proof of baggage fees paid (with travel dates).  If you pay on a third-party website, you’ll need your hotel bill showing travel dates, third-party bill showing method of payment and travel date, and receipt with proof of baggage fees paid (with travel dates).  Rebate is provided through a $50 Visa gift card.

Photo credit: InterContinental Hotels Group

Bloggers Hit Las Vegas

Another day, another blog conference.

For a bunch of people who spend most of their time talking to friends in the computer, bloggers sure like to get together for massive in-person parties as often as possible!  (No, not party.  Conduct very, very serious business.  Especially if you do this for a living and these conferences are business tax-deductible expenses.  Ahem.)

About 4,000 bloggers are expected to attend BlogWorld in Las Vegas from October 14th through the 16th.  The conference is being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on the South end of the Strip (or Las Vegas Blvd, if you’re looking at an actual map.)  While many attendees have had their travel plans booked for months, some people *coughmecough* are still finalizing their trip details.  Are you still looking for a Las Vegas hotel for the weekend of BlogWorld?  We have suggestions to meet every budget.

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The Chocolate Buffet at Cafe Fleuri

On Saturday September 11, 2010, the Langham Hotel in Boston welcomed the fall return of their famed chocolate buffet, now entering it’s twenty-second year.  After dreaming about this buffet for years, I finally had the opportunity to attend.

Each year, the chocolate buffet has a different theme.  This year, the theme is the Five Elements of Taste, and the chocolate bar includes desserts inspired by the elements of salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and savory.  In addition, there are crepe, ice cream, truffle, and cotton candy stations.  The famed Langham Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding (a staple at past years’ chocolate buffets).

Coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages are included in the chocolate buffet, or specialty chocolate martinis are available for an additional fee.  There’s also a martini sampler flight available.

When I arrived, I immediately started with the crepes – they are a little smaller than traditional crepes so you can fill up on other desserts also.  The crepe and chocolate croissant bread pudding were my favorites, although I also loved the truffles and bacon chocolate tarte.

If you are visiting Boston and are interested in checking out the chocolate buffet, the Langham is offering a great deal – the Golden Ticket Chocolate Bar package.  It includes overnight accommodations, valet parking, and Saturday chocolate buffet for two.

The Langham Boston Hotel is located in the heart of Boston’s financial district, right near Faneuil Hall and the North End.

The Langham Boston Hotel
250 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 451 1900

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: I was treated to the Chocolate Buffet as part of a media event at the Langham Boston Hotel.