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Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Cannes Hotels / French Riviera Hotels / → All Tags
A Night at The 3.14 Hotel: What It's Really Like in Cannes
The 3.14 Hotel overlooks the storied Carlton Intercontinental hotel.
For most of us, heading to Cannes, the land of celebrities, yachts and movies, is a pipe dream. Probably something we could only do when we're old and have saved up enough money. But we'll be old then. Thank god we can live vicariously through Jet Set Life's Kimberly Murgatroyd who gives us yet another hotel review. This time, it's the funkee (in a French accent) 3.14 Hotel. Enjoy.
Coming of the heels of my St. Tropez vacation, I headed to Cannes for a six-night stay at the kitschy 3.14 Hotel. I chose this hotel primarily for it's prime location and said to be unique design concept. My overall feeling on day six of six, was that this is a hotel with so much potential and in dire need of so much work.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Boston Hotels / Boutique Hotels / Kimberly Murgatroyd / → All Tags
Boston's XV Beacon Hotel Still Passes The Jet Set Test
Once again, Jet Set Life's Kimberly Murgatroyd returns with another VIP Hotel Review. You may recall her last visit to the exotic Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, Greece. This time she's landed stateside to revisit the XV Beacon Hotel. Enjoy.
Maybe I keep returning to Boston's XV Beacon Hotel because I'm a true New England girl at heart, or maybe it's that XV Beacon just gets what operating a luxury boutique hotel is all about. When you first walk into this, turn-of-the-century federalist meets modern hotel, there is an immediate feeling of warmth and a definite welcoming vibe.
Without a doubt, what makes this hotel so welcoming is the extraordinary staff that has turned anticipating a guests needs into an art form. From the front desk to the chauffeur, the staff could not have made us feel more at home. It's an obvious reflection of outstanding kindness and leadership from the general manager and the hotel's owner. The staff at XV Beacon are the heart and soul of this operation.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Paris Hotels / Eric Rosen / → All Tags
Shhh...Don't Tell Anyone About the Hotel Le Clos Medicis
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
Our next VIP reviewer is Eric Rosen, the chief restaurant reviewer for LA.com. He's also contributed several travel guides to the site on cities like Napa, Sonoma and San Diego hotels. But here he takes us away to his favorite hotel in Paris.
Nowadays when you hear the phrase "boutique hotel," you think of some huge W Hotel in the middle of a huge city, with a huge number of huge rooms. But if you want to go back to the roots of the trend towards these tiny treasure hotels, look no further than the darling little Hotel Le Clos Medicis in Paris.
Le Clos Medicis may only have three stars--which can be pretty iffy in Europe--but its immaculate rooms, modern décor, historical architecture (it was built as a private residence in 1773), and friendly staff (also a rarity in Paris) make it one of the best values in the city.
Tags: Budapest Hotels / VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Amy Langfield / NewYorkology / Intercontinental Hotels / Hotel Video Tours / → All Tags
NewYorkology Hearts the View from the Budapest Intercontinental Hotel
A while back we let you know that Amy Langfield from NewYorkology was taking a European vacation and she was concerned about her lodgings in Prague. Well, we know how that all worked out and now she's giving up the lowdown on her trip. Here she details her stay at the Intercontinental Hotel in Budapest. Consider this Part 1.
We were on the club floor and got a pretty good deal since we booked a package that got us a city tour package.
And yes, the cruise was cheesy, but it was worth it for the VIP entry to Parliament with our excellent guide Andrea, who was super smart and had a very dry sense of humor. She works for the Eurama Travel Agency in the InterContinental.
The hotel was perfectly fine, and I was exceptionally happy with the extra bed situation for my stepson. But really, the best thing about this place was the view. All pictures here are taken from inside our room -- at arrival, sunset, and the morning.
And above is the YouTube video I shot at dinner at the hotel's patio. It's not of the hotel, but rather the fireworks show we could see from the hotel. Killer view indeed.
Room rates at the Intercontinental start at $215 a night for a standard room. Rooms with a view are slightly more.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Kimberly Murgatroyd / Marbella Hotels / Costa Del Sol Hotels / Hotel Nightlife / → All Tags
Jet Set Girl Chillaxes at the Not-Quite Five-Star Don Carlos Resort in Marbella
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
Our next VIP reviewer is Kimberly Murgatroyd, the pretty young thing behind My Jet Set Life blog. Her motto is "Excuses are over. It's time to live." And indeed she does. Here she gives us her insider take on the Don Carlos Resort in Spain. Enjoy.
For my husband and I, deciding to spend a few weeks enjoying Spain's sunny Costa del Sol was easy, however deciding where to stay wasn't. There are some great hotels in Marbella, although I found that the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa was the perfect place to park my jet set suitcase for a few weeks.
During our stay, the hotel celebrated their new five-star rating with a large party in the hotel's gardens. However, I think the rating was a little ambitious considering the check-in process and staff is average. They also don't have a concierge, and getting help with local restaurants, directions and things to do seems more three-star than five-star.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Chris Clarke / Sonesta Resorts / Egypt Hotels / Beach Resorts / → All Tags
Sonesta Beach Resort Serves up Smiles and Skin in Sharm El Sheikh
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
Our next VIP reviewer is Chris Clarke, the blogger behind the hotel industry site Vacant Ready He's traded living in Vancouver for Egypt for a little while and of course is checking out the hotel scene over there. Here's his story on a little holiday he took.
I'm currently based in Cairo, and like most of my colleagues here I look forward to getting out of town for a little R&R. Last weekend I checked into the all-inclusive Sonesta Beach Resort for five days of amazing Red Sea snorkeling. This was not my first time visiting Sharm, but it was my first visit to the Sonesta Resort.
The expansive resort grounds are very well maintained, and offer just about any activity imaginable. Guestrooms are huge, though fairly sparse in amenities. Food and beverage offerings were surprisingly good for an Egyptian all-inclusive -- right up until I got sick the last night after dinner.
This surprised me since my system is accustomed to all kinds of abuse from Cairo's culinary scene.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Jenny Block / Kimpton Hotels / Chicago Hotels / → All Tags
Open Marriage Expert Keeps it Tame at the Burnham
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
Our next VIP reviewer is Jenny Block, is a prolific writer on arts and culture for a wide variety of regional and national publications. She has also just written a book titled, “Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage.” Here she tells us about a recent trip to Chi-town. Enjoy.
When my girlfriend asked me to join her on a business trip to Chicago, Illinois, I simply couldn't resist, especially when she told me we'd be staying at the Hotel Burnham. It's a Kimpton property, which is a boutique hotel group that I adore. They are always just the right mix of hip and comfortable and Hotel Burnham was no different.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Jen Leo / Viva Vegas / Downtown Vegas Hotels / Hotel Pools / Sweet Suites / Hotel Wedding Crashers / → All Tags
The True Adventures of Marital Bliss Inside the Golden Nugget Spa Suite
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
After a brief sabbatical, our VIP series returns again with Jen Leo, the keynote blogger of the LA Times Daily Deal and Travel Blog and former HotelChatter contributor. Jen is one of the savviest people we know in the travel writing industry so when she mentioned that she booked the spa suites at the Golden Nugget for her wedding, we were intrigued. Here she tells us all the juicy details. About the hotel, of course. Not the wedding night. Enjoy.
[Photo: DaveAlter]
One of my most memorable hotel experiences was the suite that I got for my wedding night. It wasn't memorable for the reasons you're quick to assume. This was in Vegas, and Vegas is known for some pretty amazing suites and party palaces. But would you expect anything grand downtown?
Since I met my husband at a poker tournament in Las Vegas - we thought it'd be fun to get married on 7-7-07 in Vegas. I didn't want to do the drive-thru or cheapo turnstile weddings that Vegas is famous for, so we centered our destination wedding, and a full weekend of festivities, around the Golden Nugget.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Deidre Woollard / Hotel Ghosts / Hilton Hotels / Louisville Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Ghosts, Bourbon Cocktails and Hootie and the Blowfish at the Seelbach Hilton
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
The next VIP in the series is Deidre Woollard, the founder and head writer at popular luxury blog, Luxist.com. Despite writing about what's hot in the luxury world, Deidre has spent time in a Super 8 Motel. Of course, she would never stay there again. Instead the next time she visits Louisville, Kentucky, she'll probably hit up the Seelbach Hilton. Enjoy.
[Photo: Caprig]
For a couple of years while getting my MFA through Spalding University's limited residency program I spent a lot of time in Louisville, Kentucky.
Each semester we spent 10 days in a hotel in Louisville. For the inaugural session of the program they put us in a Super 8 hotel. Not just any Super 8 Hotel, but one that happened to be located near what appeared to be a crackhouse.
It was noisy, loud and scary but both the visiting professors and students bonded as we chaperoned each other from elevator to room for security's sake. It was the last semester the program ever stayed there.
For the rest of my time in the program we stayed at the Seelbach Hilton, the grand old hotel downtown which was built in 1905. It was quite an improvement from the Super 8.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Johnny Jet / Luxury Tents / Luxury Camping / → All Tags
Johnny Jet Goes Luxury Camping Down Under
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
The next VIP in the series is Johnny Jet, aka John DiScala, the man behind the extremely popular travel website and newsletter JohnnyJet.com. If there's ever a question you have about airlines, airfares, hotels, resorts and travel in general, Johnny Jet is the man to ask. And that's probably because he's been there. Twice. Enjoy.
It's an honor to be writing for HotelChatter.com and when they asked me to pick my favorite hotel - I had to think about it. It's been over 10 days and I'm still thinking about it. Seriously, reflecting back, I realize I might be one of the most spoiled or luckiest S.O.B.'s on earth as I have been fortunate to stay at some incredible places over the years.
However, to pick one that’s totally unique and definitely in my top 10 has to be Longitude 131. It’s far far away in Australia’s Red Center in the town of Uluru/Ayers Rock. The 15 luxury "tents" resort is built on a sand dune. It’s for adults-only (over 12) so forget about bringing the kids. It has won many awards, including The Robb Report’s Top Ten Haute Hotels in the World, and is eco-friendly.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / George Hobica / Fairmont Hotels / Hotel Pets / → All Tags
The Fairmont Copley Passes The Airfare Watchdog's Sniff Test
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
The next VIP in the series is George Hobica, who created one of our favorite websites ever, Airfare Watchdog, which gives readers the lowdown on the cheapest airfares around the world. Enjoy.
[Photo: JulieMelton]
I've been pretty much all around the world and stayed in a lot of hotels, from the swank Cipriani in Venice to the idyllic Four Seasons in Bali. It's pretty depressing, at least to me, to end up in a dumpy hotel with polyester sheets and strange odors, and windows that won't open. So I like to spoil myself when I travel, or at least have the same level of comfort on the road as I do at home (we do have operable windows chez moi).
And I feel both spoiled and at home at Boston's Copley Plaza, now a part of the Fairmont group. Built the same year that the Titanic went down (1912), all of its 383-rooms have been newly renovated in a style befitting its vintage, without being too fussy or fusty.
Here's why I else like it: It's dog friendly, very friendly. As you'd expect from someone who owns a Web site called Airfarewatchdog.com, this is a must. They even have a "canine ambassador," a gorgeous black lab named Catie stationed in the lobby at the concierge desk. If I'm going out for the night, I leave my wheaten terrier with the concierge so she won't be lonely.
Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Charles Ogilvie / TuneHotels / Budget Hotels / Hotel Technology / → All Tags
Airline 2.0 Rock Star Reviews TuneHotels
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
The next VIP in the series is Charles Ogilvie, in-flight entertainment director for Virgin America. Charles is always on the go checking out new cities and new products. His latest travels have landed him in Kuala Lumpur where he stayed at the budget TuneHotels. Enjoy.
I am writing this VIP hotel review using my in-room WiFi connection at a "no-frills" hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia called TuneHotel. I just came in today from Singapore on AirAsia's new SIN-KUL flight (I'll tell you about the experience a different time, but it was great!)
"Malaysia" is buzzing in Singapore this week at the Singapore Air Show, as the country is both a hot regional and international destination and a growing international hub. Too bad I can't stay very long, otherwise I'd love to explore this country a bit.
However I did get to pop into a newly renovated building called Central Plaza earlier that houses a mighty and growing list of international carriers' downtown offices.
But back to TuneHotels.
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