We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Islands are good spots to find killer views and Spain's Lanzarote is no exception. This Flickr member got creative as well to take this night view looking over the Lanz Beach Club, from the Hotel Hesperia Lanzarote. Photographer JLGA was especially proud to say that this picture is a "Fully original, no digital edition!!" Yep, we're pretty impressed with this shot.
As for the Hotel Hesperia itself, having four swimming pools is a good start. Room rates start from €99 (US$150) for a standard room, rising to €212 (US$330) for a superior suite. There are about 320 rooms and suites overall, so it's not a small place, but the pool ratio works out pretty nicely, plus there's always the beach club, too. And if the view's this impressive by night, it's gotta be pretty nice by day, too.
El Conquistador Hotel in Puerto Rico is an extremely pretty cliffside resort that is set up as five villages full of villas (there are also 750 rooms, but the villas are where it's at), set around a good size indoor outdoor lobby, a casino, and a sprawling pool area.
If you stay here, and don't rent a car, you are going to be tied to the resort grounds for most of your stay. Don't fret though, there is a steakhouse and a Starbucks on-site, as well as plenty of other shops and restaurants.
Remember, while this highly-touted Puerto Rico resort it is old, and shows its wear in spots. Furthermore, if you want to spend your time away on a Puerto Rico beach, you will need to ride the funicular then hop on a boat to Palomino Island, which is just off sure. If this short trip to the beach sounds like a fun adventure to you, this is probably your kind of resort, if it sounds like a pain in the ass to you, you will be better off at the Ritz.
Either way, you can't deny this resorts stunning beauty, take a look at the photos we snapped below.
If you have your heart set on staying the night inside the walls of Old San Juan you will no doubt consider El Convento Hotel, which is a former convent in the middle of the historic walled town.
Be prepared, there are no ocean front rooms here, nor any beach or sprawling pool area to speak of. This is a charming old Spanish Colonial property with some updates (flat screen television and wireless access). However, the maze of terraces and quiet sitting areas, some offering day-long complimentary beverage service, along with the impossible to beat location are reasons why folks choose to stay here.
If you are looking to stay in a quiet location that is still in the midst of the Old San Juan action -- this is your place, if you are looking for ocean views and beach access, move along.
Rooms can be scored for under $200 depending on availability and the season.
The Gran Melia Puerto Rico is a bit isolated, but hey, that is what many island goers are looking for. While you won't find the all night antics of San Juan right outside your door, you will find ping pong, pool, kid size chess, beautiful. Oh, and forgive us for the shaky walking, no, no one was drinking.
Location:
Northeast of the island, between San Juan and Fujardo. You are going to need a car if you stay here and want to explore the island. Coco Beach is nearby, but for everything else you will have to drive down to the highway and drive the 45 minutes to San Juan, or points beyond.
Neighborhood:
Golf course and ocean.
Pool:
Not extremely crowded, very spread out. There is a swim up bar, pool side games, and island music playing. Yes, there were kids in the pool, but not an overwhelming amount of kids. Besides, the pool leads into the rocky beach, and further down you will find a sandy beach, point being, there is plenty of space to find a quiet spot on the grounds.
What is the crowd like?
Honeymooners. The all-inclusive crowd. Family travelers and leisure travelers.
Rates This is typically an all-inclusive resort but you can stay just one night starting at $300. However, beware as extras like internet will cost more.
The best part of the The San Juan Marriott and Stellaris Casino? For us that would have to be the penthouse -- yes, yes, as always we are suckers for clear views of the norther and southern skies -- blame DirecTV.
In any event, this penthouse is not just for high rollers, and no you can not actually make a reservation to stay in the penthouse, there are no beds. If however, you are a Marriott Rewardie, or someone that has made a reservation in one of the hotels Ocean View rooms (and paid the resort fee), you get key access to this sky box, of sorts.
Up here you can have a continental breakfast, inside or al fresco, and take in the the sights and sounds of San Juan. On a clear day you can easily see all the way to Old Town San Juan, or scout out your beach spot from above.
When you hit the Jumby Bay Blog (don't try and say that after a couple of drinks, by the way), the first impression is good. It looks nice. Plenty of pictures of long white beaches and sparkling blue sea, and a neat looking layout. But start reading and you might be disappointed--we were.
It's not just a promotional blog, it's a whack-you-over-the-head promotional blog. Each post so far advertises packages or aspects of Jumby Bay without anywhere near enough attempt to make it interestingly readable.
The list of categories on the left looked interesting, until you start clicking, because every post has been linked to practically every category.
In the interests of fairness, it is very early days at the Jumby Bay Blog, and we hope to see a bit more story-telling and a few less categories attached to each post. As it stands, it's not the kind of hotel blog we'd go back to read again, even if it does look pretty.
If you live here in the Northeast, you woke up to freezing rain and general malaise inducing weather this morning. It is times like these where we thank our lucky stars for Google Earth, which has a habit of transporting us to a far away place like Petit St. Vincent Resort, a island resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
This maritime, on the edge of kitsch, resort was conceived by Hazen K. Richardson. As we understand it, Hazen was living in New England and made a habit of escaping to the Caribbean every winter. He made a living sailing blue blooded rich dudes around the Windward Islands on his boat during the winter months. In the middle of one voyage, he pointed out an 111 acre island to a particularly wealthy client and made an off handed comment about what a great resort the deserted island would make. The monie-up New Englander almost challenged Hazen, suggesting he put the money up for Hazen to create and run such a resort. Mr. Richardson, not one to let golden opportunities slide by, jumped at the offer, and with the help of architect Arne Hasselquist, created a unique self-contained 22 cottage colony paradise.
The stone cottages are peppered throughout the island, some on hillsides, some tucked behind private beaches, and most with great views. Each cottage has plenty of space, an outdoor deck, and a hammock. Most importantly, every cottage comes equipped with its own flagpole. Raise the red flag and the golf cart traveling staff won't go anywhere near your cottage, raise the yellow flag and the staff will drive up and fulfill most any request. Kind of puts a luxury twist on the old sock on the door policy does it not?
The only way to reach PSV and the resort is by boat, where Mr. Richardson and his wife will personally greet you and hand you a drink when you arrive on the lone island dock. The owners also are likely to invite you up to their gorgeous island home for a drink at some point during your stay.
The resort is all inclusive and each meal can be enjoyed in a common area, up in your stone cottage, or delivered to you on the beach. While the food is not five star, and you aren't going to find any flat screen televisions in the cottages, this is the kind of place where if you fall for it, you will fall hard, wanting to return over and over again. Count us among that set.
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by amandak
