The best part of the holiday kitsch at Salvatore's Garden Place Hotel near Buffalo, New York is that the owner's aren't in on the joke. Without irony, the hotel calls itself one of the most "beautiful in the world."
Every December, the hotel and nearby restaurant is decked out with tons upon tons of fake snow, white plastic Christmas trees, and mils upon miles of tulle. It's the holiday display our Italian grandmother would have if she spent $10,000 on supplies annually. Bridges, wax carolers, and even classic cars adorn the main lobby. Best of all, guests can take advantage of Buffalo's depressed economy and take advantage of cheap room rates.
For $189 per night, the "Diamond Package" includes a Jacuzzi suite, breakfast, and dinner for two surrounded by the above mentioned décor. Just don't light a cigarette -- the whole place is likely to erupt in flames. Despite the fact that the hotel is decorated like a lottery winner's mansion, it's still fun to stay in the place Donald Trump would patron if he ever deigned to visit the Rust Belt.
Earlier this week as the flurry of rumors about a new hotel from Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode were flitting about we received a holiday card from the duo in the mail.
Now, we know we are not VIP but rather we guessed that they had our address on file from when we stayed at the Bowery Hotel last summer. The "card" also included a brochure on the Lafayette House. Is that hotel hurting for business?
However, our holiday card was not as random as the gift they gave to another guest. Hotel Maven Claire wrote into us saying:
I just got a deck of playing cards from the Maritime Hotel. I've never even been there. Is it a Christmas gift as a promotion? It's addressed to me. Maybe its for hyping up their next hotel by proxy? Either way it's the cutest deck of cards. What a great promotion tool.
Hmmm...it seems there is no rhyme or reason to the holiday gift card/promotion list. How come Claire got a deck of cards and all we got was a lousy brochure of the Lafayette House? You know what time it is now? It's time for some Yankee Swap.
We have the full picture, somwehat askew, of the holiday card after the jump. Note to all: Scanning and eggnog don't mix.
In which, HotelChatter readers are treated to exclusive hotel deals dug up by us.
All deals have a limited amount of rooms attached to them and may sell out quickly.
Today's Hotel Deals
Winter 2007/8 *"Beat the Blizzard Package"* $Milford Plaza From $259/night Anytime more than six inches of snow accumulates in Manhattan, this hotel is offering rooms for $259 a night and some free hot chocolate. We say make the staffers sing and dance too. Mention "Beat the Blizzard" when booking but remember, only if there's snow.
1.03.08 - 01.31.08 $Nuevo Ano Getaway For the month of January, CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa is offering deluxe ocean views for seven nights at the price of five night. Rooms from $229 a night. Mention LRRG when booking.
Dec.17-21, 2007 $Charlie Palmer's Other Hotel Stay at Charlie Palmer's first hotel venture in Sonoma for a pre-Christmas getaway. Rooms start at $225 a night and include breakfast and a $25 shopping voucher. Not sure if that counts toward a Charlie Palmer Steakhouse gift certificate.
Now through 12.28.07 $James Hotel Chicago room and holiday shopping package Book a room at the hip James Hotel at $299 a night and get a $75 gift card to Bloomingdales, along with a special gift, complimentary package delivery from the shops to the hotel and coffee and treats for two from King Coffee.
12.13.07-03.31.08 *The Casanova, a new hotel in Barcelona* $$236/opening rates The newest hotel on the Barcelona hotel scene is the 124-room Casanova near the Las Ramblas district. The Small Luxury Hotels of the World group is offering special opening rates now through the end of March, starting at $236 (160 Euros). After that, the rates bump up to $432 (295 Euros) a night.
Have a hotel deal you think we should consider? Or have a destination and date where you want us to check for hotel rooms and rates for you? No guarantees on either, but you can try your luck by hitting us here: tips@hotelchatter.com.
As we told you last week, dedicated Hotel Maven Courtney May made a recent trip to Las Vegas to check out the hotel scene and in doing so, she stopped by the Bellagio Hotel which is known for its extravagant holiday displays.
And here is a picture of just how over-the-top they get: penguins in red scarves decorating a tree inside the hotel'a atrium. The official word on the penguins from Vegas.com:
Just steps away from the dazzling Christmas tree lies a colony of Santa hat-wearing penguins standing on a bed of icebergs. Three of these penguins are actually machine-operated -- visitors can watch as they attempt to decorate a 30-foot tree.
Good thing these little guys aren't real. We wouldn't want another Hotel Victor penguin-gate on our hands.
The Christmas market is as much a part of the holiday season in Europe as the two-tiered shopping mall in America. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, Frankfurt hosts one of Germany's oldest and largest Christmas markets. Coinciding with the Winter Wonderland, Cities Direct has three-night packages starting at £149 per person that includes return flight from London Stansted, and a three-night stay at participating hotels like Bristol Hotel Frankfurt.
Though the rooms are small, guests comment that the proximity to downtown activities like the market ensures you'll be spending little time indoors. The hotel has that urban, modern feel the Germans love, with clean lines and basic taupe/black colors. Plus, there's cow-patterned chairs in the lobby. Surely all this will be a respite for your eyes from the bright reds and greens and the clutter-filled shop counters that characterize the season.
Just when Junior's coming down from his Christmas-induced toy euphoria, postpone the inevitable tantrum with a trip to New York City. From January 2 through February 14th, Apple Core Hotels, a co-branded initiative of midtown Manhattan properties, is offering parents an out. For $150 a night, guests get a night's stay and a free stuffed animal making session at the Toys "R" Us Times Square.
After, the little guy can drag his new companion along for a ride on the 60-foot Ferris Wheel, or on a stroll through Barbie's two-story, dollhouse, depending on his disposition. The Apple Core group includes the La Quinta Inn Manhattan, Red Roof Inn Manhattan, the Comfort Inn Midtown, Super 8 Hotel Times Square, and the Ramada Inn East Side.
When the weather outside is frightful...hit up an Omni Hotel for some hot chocolate. But they aren't serving Swiss Miss packets here.
The hotel chain has announced its "premium artisanal hot chocolate program" that uses Chuao Chocolatier Venezuelan-style hot chocolate, in Abuela (traditional) or Spicy Mayan flavors and is served with a choice of either fresh whipped cream, chocolate shavings, graham cracker crumbs or flavored Plush Puffs homemade gourmet marshmallows.
And in the words of "Fun Bobby" from Friends, adult guests can also make their hot chocolate "Irish" with a shot of liquor.
The hot chocolate program will be in place throughout the winter at all Omni Hotels restaurants, bars, lounges and in-room dining.
If you're unlucky (or depending on your perspective, lucky) enough to be traveling for work during the coming holiday season, then the Conrad Hotels and Resorts chain have come up with their special Conrad Connections extras to help ease the strain.
The complimentary extras in the Connections deal are threefold, but the name probably comes from the first part: all guests get a free five-minute phone call to anywhere in the world. The Conrad gang decided to offer this after reading studies that showed one of the most popular activities for business travelers in their hotels was phoning home.
The other two facets of the Connections deal are quite seasonal. First, guests are offered a free gift-wrapping service for their Christmas shopping (pity they don't choose the presents for you, too). And on top of that, Conrad Hotels are offering a selection of special drinks and delicacies unique to each region. For example, you'll score some Turkish Delight at the Conrad Istanbul, or traditional Egyptian pastries at the Conrad Sharm El Sheikh.
Just to help you add to that whole Christmas season weight-gain thing. But at least you can tell the folks at home about that for free. The Conrad Connections freebies will run from December 21 to January 4 next year.
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by juliana
