Hotels

Santa is very, very mad at the Holiday Inn Las Vegas – something about the huge number of black sheep in Sin City and the Holiday Inn being responsible. Turns out the whole mess is due to a New Year’s Eve promotion rolled out by the hip new hotel near the Strip.

Vegas

They’re inviting guests to submit five New Year’s ‘Anti-Resolutions,’ and in return, you get 15% off on the room rate and a complimentary bottle of Champagne.

No wonder Santa’s miffed. Cheap gifts stuffed into a stocking are no match for a 15% discount on Las Vegas hotels and a bottle of the bubbly to boot.

Sounds like a good deal, so let’s get to work on the anti-resolutions. The Holiday Inn was kind enough to provide a few examples:-

Holiday Inn

•   I will save less money and buy more things I don’t need
•   I will accept more people I do not know as my “friends” on Facebook
•   I promise to shop online more at work next year
•   I vow to over-caffeinate more next year
•   I promise to pay less attention to what people are saying to me in 2010
•   I will get less sleep and do less exercise
•   I will call in sick more often when I am not

I’m sure you get the picture now… All anti-resolutions must be rated PG in nature, approved by management and once submitted, will be posted on the hotel’s Facebook page. You need to submit your entries in writing upon check-in.

Holiday Inn photo credit – VisMedia, courtesy IHG Plc; Vegas photo by Bala

Info: 4055 Palos Verdes Street Las Vegas, NV 89119; (702) 473-6400; www.hilasvegashotel.com/

Related posts:-
Things to do in Las Vegas – New Years Eve
Celebrate New Year’s Eve Las Vegas Style
Top New Year’s Eve 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/

Related Posts:-
Laid Off? Insurance Lets You Trade in Tickets for Lunch Money

A view of the Seaport Hotel from the Boston Harbor

When the Seaport Hotel in Boston opened back in the 90s, it was one of the first hotels on the about-to-be-revived South Boston waterfront.  Now, finally, the waterfront is a Boston hot-spot, with the Boston Convention Center, Institute for Contemporary Art, and the Boston Children’s Museum easily within walking distance.  The Seaport is still one of the best hotels in Boston, with deluxe accommodations, a fabulous restaurant, and family activities nearby.  It is also a “green hotel“, featuring environmentally friendly policies.

This Thanksgiving Holiday season, the Seaport Hotel, in conjunction with their on-site restaurant Aura Boston, is offering a wonderful special with two options.  If you are certain of your plans, you can fully pay for your room in advance, with no option for cancellation, and lock-in the fabulous rate of $99 per night, which includes overnight accommodation, usage of the Wave fitness club and pool, and wireless internet access.

If you need the option of canceling or changing your reservation, you can get the flexible holiday rate of $149 per night. Both rates are available from November 22nd – November 30th, 2009.

To book this special rate, visit the Seaport Boston’s promotions page.

If you do stay over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can also book reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at Aura Boston.  The special Thanksgiving menu includes a kid’s menu.

Photo credit: the Seaport Boston

The exterior of XV Beacon

Boston hasn’t always been known for its luxury boutique hotels, with a few exceptions – one of them being the XV Beacon Hotel on historic Beacon Hill.  XV Beacon, one of Travel + Leisure’s top small city hotels is offering a fabulous vacation special to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary.

The  10th Anniversary package includes overnight accommodations, an automatic upgrade, and a special anniversary remembrance gift.  In addition, 10th Anniversary guests are able to choose an add-on to their package, including:

·         Full American Breakfast
·         Ramos Pinto, a 10-year Tawny
·         A bottle of Champagne
·         A Boston Beer Tasting
·         In-room movie and munchies
·         A bottle of red wine; a bottle of white wine
·         Bottled water and seasonal whole fruit
·         Parking
·         or a return ride to Logan Airport in XV Beacon Read More »

Eloise just got herself some shining new diamonds – an early Christmas present from the AAA, which just announced the 2010 AAA Five Diamond Award winners, with 113 hotels on the list – including The Plaza Hotel and The Pierre New York-A Taj Hotel.

Eloise at the Plaza

The Plaza re-opened last year after a massive three year renovation. The Pierre, likewise, re-opened earlier this year after a $100 million renovation. In a funny co-incidence, both iconic New York hotels first opened their doors on Oct 1. The Plaza opened on Oct 1, 1907 and The Pierre on Oct 1 , 1930.

Here’s the AAA’s full list of 2010 Five Diamond Lodgings. The list now also features the Mandarin Oriental in Boston; Encantado - An Auberge Resort in Sante Fe, N.M.; and The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Florida and Nevada each scored 3 more properties on the list.

Speaking of Eloise, she now has a second home in the Big Apple – the New York Public Libary. The Library  ‘acquired’ a colored-pencil sketch of the Eloise painting that hangs in The Plaza. They got the sketch as part of a donation which included the personal papers of  novelist E. Annie Proulx and Hilary Knight, who drew Eloise for the Kay Thompson books.

No word yet on whether Eloise will be joined at the Public Library by her nanny, her pug Weenie, and Skipperdee – her turtle.

Photo of Eloise at the Plaza painting by susansimon.

Related posts:-
The Plaza Hotel’s Christmas Spectacular and Other Deals, New York City
New York City Day Trip

Gary, IN is cooking up plans to build a Michael Jackson hotel, a museum and a performing arts center in the Jackson family’s hometown, as part of ‘The Jackson Family Project’ aimed at honoring the King of Pop’s legacy. 

Michael Jackson at White House & Gary Mayor Rudy Clay in front of Jackson home

Michael Jackson was born on Aug 20, 1958 in Gary, and the family lived at their home on 2300 Jackson St until 1971, at which time they moved to Los Angeles to further the musical career of the Jackson 5 group.

Joe Jackson – Michael Jackson’s father, accompanied by Rudy Clay – Mayor of the town of Gary, IN – was in Las Vegas late last month, meeting with investors and partners for the hotel and museum project, according to a statement by Brendan Theater Corp.  Read More »

Hotel Front Desk

“Hi. We are looking for a brown ladies swimsuit and a pair of blue boxers with orange – uh, roosters on them. Orange roosters.”

I will continue that story later. We’ve all been next to the person at the hotel check-in counter who is asking for something very odd or out of the ordinary. I was staying at a Best Western in San Francisco once and the guy next to me was trying to insist that his room be cleaned again immediately because he “sensed something present in the room that needed to be banished…not evil, just unclean.” No joke.

What strange hotel requests have you made or heard recently? I’ve pulled a couple of good ones off the Internet from a site called HotelClub:

“My car dimensions are 4850mm x 4810mm x 1875mm and I would like to know the dimensions of the hotel’s car parking spaces to ensure that my car will fit and not get damaged.”

“I would like a fish tank in my room that is sized approximately 30cm and fully stocked before confirming this booking. ”

Fish tank in a hotel - Maybe the guest wanted something like this?

And then comes the story from my fiance, who was in another hotel in San Francisco about seven years ago (what is it about that city?). He was only in the city for 2 nights, so he had ONE pair of pants with him. Well, he had a big Friday night, and the cleaning lady decided to clean around him while he slept. When he woke up, his pants were gone. So, he called the front desk and said “Your cleaning lady came in, cleaned the room and took my pants. I’d like to have them back so I can go outside.” Turns out he was at fault, but I’m sure the poor room service people were flustered.

And lastly…during our stay at the Inn at Key West in Key West, Florida in August, my fiance and I went for a swim. He, of course, did not have swim trunks with him, so he put on a CLEAN pair of boxers and jumped in. We got back, showered and left, but we hadn’t realized that we had accidentally wrapped up his boxers and my swimsuit in a wet towel and left it on the floor. Needless to say, they were picked up by room service and laundered. Imagine calling the front desk and saying: “Hi. We are looking for a brown ladies swimsuit and a pair of blue boxers with orange – uh, roosters on them. Orange roosters.”

All items were returned to us safe and sound…with an amused smile.

Photo Credits: Alan Light, kamikarin

If you live in or around Georgia and are looking for a hotel to impress a loved one on a romantic retreat, look no further! I tried to select hotels across different price ranges – you obviously don’t have to spend a lot of money for a romantic getaway, but some of the pricier hotels were so nice I couldn’t help but include them.

Cheateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia

Chateau Elan – Braselton, Georgia

LOVE this hotel.  It’s a hotel/winery/spa in Braselton, Georgia, about 40 minutes north of Atlanta. You can snag rooms for about $100 in certain months, and they’re not usually above $150. The winery is great fun to tour (actually take the tour, the tastings are way better than the ones in the store!) There’s also a golf course, so everyone can be happy . The hotel looks like a 17th century French mansion, very European and chic looking. You definitely do not feel like you’re still in Georgia, which is part of the romantic charm.

Barnsley  Gardens Resort- Adairsville, Georiga

You’ll pay at least $200/night here, but oh the amenities. This gorgeous resort is tucked away at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 60 miles from Atlanta. You will be pampered. Choose between a room, a suite or an entire cottage. Enjoy tennis, golf and more. The property is over 160 years old, so you’re surrounded by history as well. Don’t forget about the Fairy Godmother (see the site).

Foundry Park Inn and Spa - Athens, Georgia

I adore Athens, Georgia. It’s a lovely, picturesque college town with big oak trees that make canopies over the streets, big green parks and a quirky assortment of very good cafes, restaurants and bars. Athens is a fun place to escape to for a romantic weekend, and Foundry Park Inn and Spa will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. It’s a remarkably affordable retreat – rooms are usually $110-$130/night.

Romantic Athens, Georgia

The Gaslight Inn Bed & Breakfast

This is a very high quality B&B located in one of central Atlanta’s most enchanting neighborhoods, the Virginia-Highlands. You’ll be within walking distance to a host of shops, cafes and bars, and you’re a two minute drive from beautiful Piedmont Park. If you’re looking for a distinctive Craftsman type hotel for your stay, you’ve found it. This is the perfect starting place to explore downtown Atlanta without staying in one of downtown’s more generic high rises. There’s plenty of character and charm to go around.

Photos: Bruce Tuten, Vzach

Downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas

If you don’t mind having some extra guests in your room, and by guests I mean GHOSTS, then check in to the 1886 Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas this year! Right around Halloween would be very fun. This sprawling Victorian was constructed in (you guessed it) 1886, and it’s beautiful, spooky and charming all at once. The grounds are gorgeous, and the hotel is chock full of history (don’t forget to sign up for one of the walking tours!)

Rooms here are romantic but not overly frilly. You might want to check out the brand-new cottages which were finished in 2008, they’re supposed to be lovely. If it were me, though, I’d go for the Jacuzzi Suites. They used to be servant’s quarters, but now they’re much nicer. If you’re really going for a splurge,the Penthouse or the Governor’s Suite could fit the bill.

And don’t forget – this hotel also offers amazing, highly recommended spa services! It’s called the New Moon Spa. 7200 square feet of massages, body wraps scrubs and more. That way, if you’re tense and scared by ghostly activity, you can go back up to your room nice and relaxed.

A group of friends and I have decided to meet up once a year at an amazing supposedly haunted hotel in a pretty location…the 1886 Crescent Hotel is now at the top of my list!

Photo: Clinton Steeds

Autumn Leaves

Budget Travel Magazine published this article a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I’d share! You really can’t beat the prices. Move quickly though, these deals expire soon. Some highlights:

Up for some camping? Fall is the perfect season for it! Nights are cool, days are pleasant, and the leaves make daily hikes unimaginably pretty. Crawford Notch Campgrounds in New Hampshire offers tent sites for only $29 or cabins for $64.

Crawford Notch State Park

Another good bet in North Hampshire is the White Trellis Motel in North Conway, which is offering rooms at $69 during the week and $79 on the weekends. Hurry! Leaves are changing quickly up there.

The next two weeks are the last weeks you can take advantage of the Moose Watching Tour and Lodging Package for $119, at the Moose Mountain Inn.  2 night minimum stay. Sleep in a comfy bed and maybe see some moose! Hopefully not in your room.

A Friendly Moose.

Zoom Zoom – rent a convertible and check out the sights and sounds of Cape Cod. You can stay for two nights at the Hampton Inn in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for $150/night including convertible rental. Fun! I did this sort of thing a number of years ago on my own and it was one of the best weekend trips I’d ever taken.

Happy travels from one autumn lover to the next.

Photos: Cliff 1066, Muffet, Aske Holst