HotelChatter

· "We stayed at the Courtyard Ontario Brampton—about 30 minutes outside of Toronto. The room set was really nice and classy. I wish they had a microwave, but they did have a fridge. They also didn’t have a grab and go breakfast as mentioned when we signed up. The best part of staying there was that we only paid $40 a night via Priceline."
Anonymous

· "We stayed in the Francis Scott Key Motel in Ocean City, MD. The hotel is located on 13 acres just one mile from the boardwalk. Shuttles run between the hotel and boardwalk every 10 minutes, so we didn't have to drive anywhere. In fact, we parked our car when we checked in and didn't use it again until we checked out. FSK has so much for kids to do. There's an outdoor water-spray pirate ship, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool (with a pirate theme and nightly family movie), a miniature golf course, volleyball nets, playground, basketball court, pond (with ducks and geese!) and a picnic area. The hotel is right on the main highway to the beach, and even though our room faced the highway, amazingly we never heard a sound. Even though we were in the heart of the city, we felt like we were on a campground. And best of all, it's so affordable. We were there during busy visiting times, but paid just over $400 for a 4-day/3-night stay for the four of us. Staff was friendly and helpful. Rooms were spic and span. A great experience overall."
Mary

· "This summer, my family and I stayed at the Embassy Suites on Waikiki Beach, HI. Out of all of the recognizable hotels on the Kalakaua strip, we were so happy to be where we were. We were centrally located, smack dab in the middle of the shopping district—just a stone’s throw to Louis Vuitton, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and two blocks from Waikiki Beach, with restaurants in practically our front yard. We loved the complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception. The suites were perfect for our large group of 12. The wet bar, common room, and beds were incredible. We spent a lot of time on the 4th floor lanai in the pool and hot tub.”
Christina Lor

· "I stayed at Hotel Fonda Vela, within walking distance of the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. The hotel does not put on airs of being trendy or stylish, but pays homage to nature itself. We stayed in a Junior Suite, which was huge. The floral patterns on the curtains and bedspreads didn't really grab me, but the place grew on me the first morning I woke up to see the view from our giant floor to ceiling window overlooking the forest. The hardwood floors and ceilings and the sitting area and writing desk set in an alcove in front of the window brought a Hemingway-esque feel to the place. The property has a series of walking trails, really great food (breakfast included), and sculptures throughout recognizing artists, farmers, and other blue collar workers, as well as hundreds of paintings by the hotel’s original owner."
Claire Saylor

· "This summer, my husband and I went to Amsterdam and stayed in the Renaissance Hotel. From beginning to end, our stay was exceptional.

Likes:

· Clean, modern yet cozy, beautifully decorated rooms and bathrooms with amazing photography art from around Amsterdam (we wanted to buy the art it was so incredible).
· They helped my husband with a surprise he had planned on very short notice.
· Food in the restaurant was delicious and atmosphere very funky.
· Friendliest concierge service I have ever had.
· Beautiful fitness center with top of the line equipment and extras like water and towels

Dislikes:

· The reception area was a bit chaotic for an otherwise calm and well organized hotel.
Erin A. Kurt, B.Ed