Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven Jennifer Merritt heads to the Maldives...in her head. Enjoy.
Ever since a PR person's pitch for the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island arrived in my inbox, I cannot stop thinking about this place--and that was a year and a half ago.
Set on two private islands accessible only by seaplane, the hotel is surrounded by coral reef and a lagoon. It features an all-glass, undersea restaurant, two spas and various levels of luxury water villas scattered throughout miles and miles of white sandy beaches.
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven Amanda K plans a trip to Tasmania. Enjoy.
I've done some hiking through the gorgeous Cradle Mountain area of Tasmania before, but I wasn't lucky enough to be able to stay at the Voyages Cradle Mountain Lodge back then. Recently the Lodge won the Gourmet Traveller prize for Best Resort/Lodge Accommodation in Australia, and I think that's with good reason.
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven Jennifer Merritt fantasizes about a weekend (not too far) out of the city. Enjoy.
It is just plain gorgeous in New York today, so rather than escape to somewhere warmer or somewhere colder, I just want to stay put. Kind of. I want to rent a car and drive north to New Paltz for a stay at Mohonk Mountain House.
Having stayed there once before, I know this 265-year-old Victorian castle on Lake Mohonk can give me the exact type of getaway I'm looking for: one with peace and quiet. I'd book a room for the weekend facing the lake--important since rooms have no air conditioning, you must rely on the cool air coming off the water--and saddle up on the balcony with a book of crossword puzzles.
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven Jennifer Merritt takes a tree-hugger trip. Enjoy.
Lately I've been irritating my editor on purpose, in the hopes that she'll get really annoyed and tell me to go climb a tree, to which I'll say, "Assignment time!" break out the company card and head down to Tree House Lodge in Costa Rica, a 10-acre oceanfront property on Punta Uva beach.
Because I'm a good employee, I'd eschew the more costly seven-day "Relaxing" package for the three-day one, which includes airport transfers, accommodation, a beachside massage, daily yoga classes on the beach and one afternoon energy balance, which--even though I'm not quite sure what that means--has me intrigued.
The package is $2,070 for two people and since the only other person I can think of who would be into such a thing is my hippie-dippy mom, I guess she gets to come along.
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven Amanda K gets ready for Eurovision 2009. Enjoy.
After learning this week that the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Moscow, thanks to Russian heartthrob Dima taking the 2008 title in Belgrade, I am dreaming of being there for the crazy acts and occasional talented singer. Dismissing the Ritz-Carlton Moscow as having rooms that are too expensive even for daydreaming, I'm keen to try the National Hotel from the Le Royal Meridien group.
The National is in a really central spot, and is pretty historic, as it was built back in 1903. It's seen some interesting times: it was damaged by cannon fire during the revolution, used by Lenin and friends when they moved from St Petersburg to Moscow, and during the second World War even Winston Churchill stayed there once.
A studio room with a Kremlin view is fancy enough for me (they get a lot fancier, and more expensive), which costs 21,900 roubles (about US$920) a night. Buffet breakfast is included and if you get to the breakfast room at the right moment you can get a table at the window with a view towards Red Square. Since every other time I've stayed in Moscow, it's been in a run-down flat at least a few train stops from the city center, this would make a really good change.
I've just been invited to a wedding in South Korea and although I won't get there unless my fairy godmother springs for a plane ticket, it doesn't hurt to dream. If I get there I'll head down to Jeju Island, a romantic spot off the south-west corner of the country. I hear it's sometimes overflowing with honeymoon couples but that seems to fit in well with a wedding trip anyway.
My hotel of choice (I've been tipped off by an insider) is The Shilla, Jeju, a resort on a 21-acre property on the cliff-top overlooking the Pacific. It only opened in 1990 and was South Korea's first 5-star resort. Sounds good so far, right?
My room of choice will be a Pacific Suite (I don't need the Presidential) which has views over the gardens and the ocean; it's also in the even newer part of the building complex. It's around US$330 a night--though that shoots up to $860 if I go for the superior suite.
There's one more thing that really tickles me about the Shilla, and it's a neat little piece of technology:
If a phone call is made when you are watching television, the volume is automatically controlled as you pick up the receiver. If you hang up the receiver, the volume is reset as it was.
Not sure I'll be using this feature too often, but it's great to know it's there.
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven MyTwoCents visits Venice...in her mind. Enjoy.
This morning we woke up feeling like a million dollars, even if we don't have it. In keeping with our morning fantasy, we continued to dream at our cubicle of the sweet life with a romantic getaway to Venice, no holds (or dollars) barred.
And in doing some rich and famous research, we found the perfect stay, the magnificently restored Hotel Danieli.
Lording over the San Marco Basin, this historic five-floor hotel is comprised of the 14th century gothic Dandolo Palace, the baroque 19th century Casa Nuova, and the modern Danielino building. Together the hotel offers 233 rooms with swank décor and modern amenities including satellite TV, minibars, mosaic-tiled baths and the ever-important A/C.
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven Monica Guy returns to Chile. Enjoy.
Split the cubicle in half: I'm dreaming of two superb hotels at opposite ends of the longest, skinniest country in the world - Chile.
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by jennm
