Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hotels for wine lovers
The general public has a growing fascination with wine these days, and it's never been easier to learn more about it -- tours are popping up all over.
Looking for a place to stay that will get you started on the right foot? Look no further:
California
Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa
@goodgrape says: "Gaia Napa Valley falls into the extreme quality for value category for Napa Valley"
From the mustlovewine.com forums:
Wine Way Inn B&B in Calistoga
Solage Calistoga
Inn at Southbridge
Harvest Inn
Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville
Oregon
Hotel Deluxe
Hotel Monaco
So -- what are your favorites?
Looking for a place to stay that will get you started on the right foot? Look no further:
California
Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa
@goodgrape says: "Gaia Napa Valley falls into the extreme quality for value category for Napa Valley"
From the mustlovewine.com forums:
Wine Way Inn B&B in Calistoga
Solage Calistoga
Inn at Southbridge
Harvest Inn
Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville
Oregon
Hotel Deluxe
Hotel Monaco
So -- what are your favorites?
Monday, December 22, 2008
Cool (Hotel) Pools
It's cold outside -- so dreaming about a tropical getaway is one way to warm up. Check out these hotels with extremely cool pools. Who knows, maybe you'll find yourself at one this summer!
Hawaii
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
The pool complex includes a sand-bottomed children's pool with a 90-foot water slide and an infinity-edged pool for adults. The 165-foot heated infinity pool includes a Jacuzzi.
Miami, Florida
The National Hotel
The National Hotel houses two outdoor pools, including one of the most photographed pools in the world. This infinity pool extends 205 feet in length and is surrounded by tropical foliage.
Hotel Victor
On site is an outdoor infinity pool overlooking Ocean Drive and the beach.
South Padre Island, Texas
Peninsula Island Resort
Dallas, Texas
Hotel Palomar
The Hotel Palomar Dallas' rooftop infinity pool and fitness center offer views of the Dallas skyline.
San Francisco, CA
St. Regis
Las Vegas, NV (suggested by @fungirl025)
Mandalay Bay
Real California white sand cushions toes at the Mandalay Beach, where a wave pool produces up to six-feet-tall waves. The Beach Concert Series, a seasonal weekend performance, features live entertainment staged over the wave pool. An adults-only, topless beach, Moorea, occupies a secluded spot near the pool area.
Wynn
Hawaii
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
The pool complex includes a sand-bottomed children's pool with a 90-foot water slide and an infinity-edged pool for adults. The 165-foot heated infinity pool includes a Jacuzzi.
Miami, Florida
The National Hotel
The National Hotel houses two outdoor pools, including one of the most photographed pools in the world. This infinity pool extends 205 feet in length and is surrounded by tropical foliage.
Hotel Victor
On site is an outdoor infinity pool overlooking Ocean Drive and the beach.
South Padre Island, Texas
Peninsula Island Resort
Dallas, Texas
Hotel Palomar
The Hotel Palomar Dallas' rooftop infinity pool and fitness center offer views of the Dallas skyline.
San Francisco, CA
St. Regis
Las Vegas, NV (suggested by @fungirl025)
Mandalay Bay
Real California white sand cushions toes at the Mandalay Beach, where a wave pool produces up to six-feet-tall waves. The Beach Concert Series, a seasonal weekend performance, features live entertainment staged over the wave pool. An adults-only, topless beach, Moorea, occupies a secluded spot near the pool area.
Wynn
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
SXSW 09 - Book your hotels quick!
Hotels for SXSW 09 (South by Southwest), in Austin Texas are booking up fast.
Many hotels offer packages & deals that are tied in with registrations -- that limits the number of rooms available to the general public.
But, it's not too late! Head over to our Austin hotels listing and click the "enter your travel dates" link -- choose your dates, then submit the form. SXSW for 2009 is being held from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 22nd -- so, if you don't find anything available for your first choice of dates, try different ones (extending by 1 or 2 nights, etc.) to see if that increases the availability.
Be sure to visit the official SXSW site for info, schedule & maps, so you can get a better idea of what is happening where.
As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Many hotels offer packages & deals that are tied in with registrations -- that limits the number of rooms available to the general public.
But, it's not too late! Head over to our Austin hotels listing and click the "enter your travel dates" link -- choose your dates, then submit the form. SXSW for 2009 is being held from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 22nd -- so, if you don't find anything available for your first choice of dates, try different ones (extending by 1 or 2 nights, etc.) to see if that increases the availability.
Be sure to visit the official SXSW site for info, schedule & maps, so you can get a better idea of what is happening where.
As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Monday, December 15, 2008
The stories behind the names
Being in the travel industry, it's interesting to see the stories and history behind many of the hotels and chains that we work with. Many of these stories are very detailed, and many have a past that most folks would only dream of being a part of.
My curiosity for such history was piqued this weekend as I was traveling down the interstate with my wife. We were passing an exit filled with all the usual signs for all the usual hotels, and she turned to me and asked where some of them came up with their names -- specifically, Motel 6 & Super 8.
I admit I was clueless. We see signs for these budget chains at just about every interstate exit in the US, but I wondered how they came up with their names? I figured, at first, it must have something to do with the location of the original locations (maybe located on a "Highway 8" in some small town). Well, I was wrong.
The Super 8 chain was named because the rooms were originally priced at $8.88. The Motel 6 chain, when first opened in 1962, offered rooms for a mere $6.00 per night. Genius!
Such a simple explanation, yet it never crossed my mind!
So, next time you are on the road, or reading up on a hotel, take the time to find out about the history of that hotel and/or its parent chain -- you might just be surprised!
Resideo offers info & online booking for many Super 8 and Motel 6 hotels in the US.
Sources:
Super 8
Motel 6
My curiosity for such history was piqued this weekend as I was traveling down the interstate with my wife. We were passing an exit filled with all the usual signs for all the usual hotels, and she turned to me and asked where some of them came up with their names -- specifically, Motel 6 & Super 8.
I admit I was clueless. We see signs for these budget chains at just about every interstate exit in the US, but I wondered how they came up with their names? I figured, at first, it must have something to do with the location of the original locations (maybe located on a "Highway 8" in some small town). Well, I was wrong.
The Super 8 chain was named because the rooms were originally priced at $8.88. The Motel 6 chain, when first opened in 1962, offered rooms for a mere $6.00 per night. Genius!
Such a simple explanation, yet it never crossed my mind!
So, next time you are on the road, or reading up on a hotel, take the time to find out about the history of that hotel and/or its parent chain -- you might just be surprised!
Resideo offers info & online booking for many Super 8 and Motel 6 hotels in the US.
Sources:
Super 8
Motel 6
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Destination: Anaheim
We highlighted Orlando a few weeks ago, now we move to the West Coast and home to Disneyland: Anaheim, CA!
There are lots of hotels just outside of the Disneyland gates, so finding a hotel and walking to and from the attractions is easy. We recommend the Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites -- it's literally the closest hotel to the Harbor Boulevard pedestrian entrance.
Be sure to fly into John Wayne International (SNA), as it's the closest airport to Disneyland, and not as crowded as LAX.
Head north on I-5 to visit LA: Hollywood, Santa Monica and all the other spots!
There are lots of hotels just outside of the Disneyland gates, so finding a hotel and walking to and from the attractions is easy. We recommend the Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites -- it's literally the closest hotel to the Harbor Boulevard pedestrian entrance.
Be sure to fly into John Wayne International (SNA), as it's the closest airport to Disneyland, and not as crowded as LAX.
Head north on I-5 to visit LA: Hollywood, Santa Monica and all the other spots!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Best cities to celebrate New Years
It's December 2008 2009, which means that 2009 2010 is just around the corner! Where and how do you plan to spend the New Year? Here's a list of the best places to celebrate:
New York City
The one and only place to be -- hang out in Times Square and watch the ball drop in style! Hotel rooms are still available...
New Orleans
Roam around the French Quarter and ring in the New Year!
Las Vegas
Whether your on the Strip or Freemont, celebrate in Sin City.
Sydney, Australia
Be one of the first to ring in2009 2010 in style!
Hotels are limited, so book now!
Sources
Celebrations.com
ShermansTravel.com
New York City
The one and only place to be -- hang out in Times Square and watch the ball drop in style! Hotel rooms are still available...
New Orleans
Roam around the French Quarter and ring in the New Year!
Las Vegas
Whether your on the Strip or Freemont, celebrate in Sin City.
Sydney, Australia
Be one of the first to ring in
Hotels are limited, so book now!
Sources
Celebrations.com
ShermansTravel.com
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Tech geek friendly hotels
As high-tech gadgetry becomes more mainstream (easier to use & more affordable for the masses), hotels have begun to offer features that cater to these items that many just can't live without.
Here are some hotels that are going above and beyond when it comes to these amenities.
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina
San Diego, CA
All rooms provide 32-inch LCD flat-screen televisions and iHome stereo alarm clocks with iPod docking stations. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, in-room internet access is available for a fee.
The Ritz-Carlton in Denver standard room amenities include CD players, DVD players, clock radios with iPod docking stations and high-speed Internet access.
Visiting Orlando? Check out the Radisson Lake Buena Vista. Rooms feature 37-inch flat-panel TVs & alarm clocks with iPod docking stations. Internet access is complimentary.
Need a bigger television? Hotel Nikko San Francisco has some rooms with 42-inch TVs! CD players and iPod docking stations are available too, but internet access is not free.
The MGM Grand Detroit also offers rooms with 42-inch wall-mounted plasma TVs.
Need more stations? Raffles Dubai features rooms with satellite TV & free wireless internet.
Closer to home, the Stoneleigh in Dallas features a fitness center houses four resistance machines and six television-mounted, iPod-compatible cardiovascular machines.
This trend will only continue, so look for more chains to require their hotels have more & more in-room gadgets.
See you next time!
Here are some hotels that are going above and beyond when it comes to these amenities.
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina
San Diego, CA
All rooms provide 32-inch LCD flat-screen televisions and iHome stereo alarm clocks with iPod docking stations. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, in-room internet access is available for a fee.
The Ritz-Carlton in Denver standard room amenities include CD players, DVD players, clock radios with iPod docking stations and high-speed Internet access.
Visiting Orlando? Check out the Radisson Lake Buena Vista. Rooms feature 37-inch flat-panel TVs & alarm clocks with iPod docking stations. Internet access is complimentary.
Need a bigger television? Hotel Nikko San Francisco has some rooms with 42-inch TVs! CD players and iPod docking stations are available too, but internet access is not free.
The MGM Grand Detroit also offers rooms with 42-inch wall-mounted plasma TVs.
Need more stations? Raffles Dubai features rooms with satellite TV & free wireless internet.
Closer to home, the Stoneleigh in Dallas features a fitness center houses four resistance machines and six television-mounted, iPod-compatible cardiovascular machines.
This trend will only continue, so look for more chains to require their hotels have more & more in-room gadgets.
See you next time!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Getaway: Unique Christmas lodging
Get into the Christmas spirit by booking a unique holiday getaway. Whether it's ice in Florida, or staying in a town called Santa Claus, you'll have fun no matter what!
Christmas House B&B
San Antonio, TX
All year, the living room features a decorated Christmas tree and fireplace. If that's not enough, you can stay in the Santa Claus Room, which is decorated in red with white accents.
Christmas Mountain Village
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
You can always book a room in Santa Claus, Indiana. Be sure to send someone special some mail from the town post office for a unique souvenir!
You can view the local Christmas parade from the front doors of The Milton House Inn in Stanley, VA, which also decorates for the season.
Check out Ice! at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL -- an amazing display made from blocks of ice. Bundle up -- it gets cold in there!
Every room at the Hudson Inn B&B in Romeo Michigan features its own thematic Christmas tree.
The Doubletree Dallas near the Galleria boasts the tallest indoor Christmas tree!
Please feel free to share any other unique places! Happy Holidays!
Christmas House B&B
San Antonio, TX
All year, the living room features a decorated Christmas tree and fireplace. If that's not enough, you can stay in the Santa Claus Room, which is decorated in red with white accents.
Christmas Mountain Village
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
You can always book a room in Santa Claus, Indiana. Be sure to send someone special some mail from the town post office for a unique souvenir!
You can view the local Christmas parade from the front doors of The Milton House Inn in Stanley, VA, which also decorates for the season.
Check out Ice! at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL -- an amazing display made from blocks of ice. Bundle up -- it gets cold in there!
Every room at the Hudson Inn B&B in Romeo Michigan features its own thematic Christmas tree.
The Doubletree Dallas near the Galleria boasts the tallest indoor Christmas tree!
Please feel free to share any other unique places! Happy Holidays!
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