Hotel Review: Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey – Marina Del Rey, CA
There’s always two sides to a waterfront hotel. The waterfront, and….um, the back. Whenever I book one I seem to get the room that faces a solid wall, a parking lot or – worse, someone else’s room across the way. So much for oceanfront property. Not at the cozy Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey. Unlike many bay-facing hotels, it is neither nautically-themed nor entirely glass-paneled. And also unlike others, I did not find myself nose to brick with another part of the building whence I drew back the curtains. ...
read moreHotel Review: St. Regis Hotel Downtown – Vancouver, BC
So here’s something I recently learned about Canada: Canadians are nice. Like slow-down-to-stop-at-a-yellow-light-instead-of-speed-up-to-get-through-the-intersection nice. Like ask you all about where you’re from if you try and pay with a Bank of America card. Like tell you how much they love LA (even if they’re lying, it’s sweet). Like Canada was SO excited to have all of us TBEX-ers (that’s travel bloggers for the un-industry folk) in town for a weekend that fancy hotels like the lovely St. Regis in...
read moreHotel Review: St. Regis Resort – Aspen, CO
When you mention the words “St. Regis” and “Aspen,” be they together or separate, the first idea that comes to mind is most likely luxury. No doubt. The St. Regis Aspen Resort, located at the base of snow-capped Aspen Mountain and steps from some of the best skiing in the Elk Mountain area of the Rockies, is a lodge-style 5-star hotel and spa that smoothly blends all the glorious snobbery (and I say that with a hefty dose of respect, mind you) of the incomparable St. Regis brand with the charm and warmth of the...
read moreHotel Review: Pepper Tree Inn – Santa Barbara, CA
Like I ever need an excuse for a). a road trip, or b). a chance to go to Santa Barbara, but this weekend afforded me both so I took it willingly! With a family wedding set for Saturday evening at the gorgeous Four Seasons Biltmore Resort, I could have taken a room there which would have arguably been much more exciting to review (and with a great room rate, thanks to some PR help). However, it didn’t fit the family budget so we downgraded uptown to the Pepper Tree Inn, a Best Western I recalled staying at almost 3 years ago on...
read moreHotel Review: Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
After a night at the Luxor (see my review), it wouldn’t have been difficult for another hotel to impress me. But even without a serious craving for a clean, comfortable room and friendly staff, I would have found Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino a great choice for accommodations in Sin City. (Sidebar: one thing I’ve noticed about Las Vegas hotel websites – clearly, it’s NOT about the room). A crowded registration desk on Mandalay’s enormous and spread-out ground floor (though the signage is plentiful and...
read moreHotel Review: Luxor Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV
The fact that when a cab dropped me off at this landmark Vegas strip hotel and casino, and in searching for the Front Desk, the incredibly poor signage caused me to promptly walk all the way into Excalibur via an interior walkway should have been an indication that my entire stay at Luxor Las Vegas would be riddled with annoyances. From the confusing layout to the snarky staff to the terrifying walkways, it was exactly what people had warned me it was: a dump. Strike 1. I preface this review by saying I RARELY, if EVER, give harsh...
read moreHo(s)tel Review: Kinlay House, Galway, Ireland
Let me put this out there first, because a). it makes me look brave and adventurous and b). it has bearing on the opinons presented in this review. I have never stayed in a hostel. Like, ever. I never even had to go to sleepaway camp, unless you count Space Camp, in which case it was kind of like a hostel but shaped like a big rocket. In any case, I have always considered the plausibility of my staying in one somewhere near the Never-gonna-happen List, sandwiched between walking across hot coals and going to an Earth, Wind & Fire...
read moreHotel Review: The Westin St. Louis – St. Louis, MO
Any lodging prospect that involves a Heavenly Bed is usually a slam-dunk, buuuuut you never know, so I walked into the Westin in downtown St. Louis (where you can shoot a cannon down the street and not hit anyone…usually) with my usual critical eye, but this AAA four-diamond property passed with flying colors. The first thing I noticed, and my only major complaint, is the layout of the Lobby Level – it is extremely confusing: the front desk is hidden off to the right behind the elevator bank, the elevator bank is only visible...
read moreREVIEW: The Beverly Hilton – Beverly Hills, CA
“Beverly…(Hills, that is). Swimming pools….movie stars….” So discovered the Beverly Hillbillies when they struck oil in 1962 and soaked up the So Cal sun for nine seasons. And so discovered 2 friends and I when we spent a weekend “away” relaxing at this retro oasis, which towers grandly over the clustered intersection at Wilshire & Santa Monica in the heart of Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hilton was built in 1953, was famously owned for some time by late game show maven Merv...
read moreREVIEW: Pensione Wildner – Venice, Italy
Let’s face facts: Venice has one of the most unique and rich histories in the world – it is a swirling hodgepodge of global influence, an intersection between east and west, a city with an uncertain future and a dubious past. It’s no wonder La Serenissima inspired so many poets, artists and musicians from all over the world with it’s stunning visuals and murky mystery. Notables from Hemingway to Ruskin to Ezra Pound wandered it’s calles searching for inspiration – and their places of residence, like...
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