We're thinking that the La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa made a stack of dough out of their $5,000 painting deal, because they're currently spending $6.2 million on a renovation. Due to be completed by May this year, the redesign also includes a new restaurant.
The redesign on the interior includes the influence of indigenous cultures--the Museum of New Mexico Foundation got involved to design indigenous fabrics and prints for the guest rooms and public areas. They're also going for a more customer-friendly feel in the lobby, including individual check-in desks rather than one long check-in counter.
The new restaurant is the Viga, which will be open for all meals and have a casual atmosphere. This will leave their four-diamond restaurant Fuego to get a furniture upgrade and to concentrate on serving fine dinners only. It will also get a new street entrance so non-hotel guests can easily access the restaurant. Or is that so that hotel guests don't feel disturbed by any locals? Whatever the case, you can check it out yourself from next month.
It's been around 1905 and hosted Theodore Roosevelt and Albert Einstein, yet standard room rates at the El Tovar clock in at a shockingly bargain $166 for being perched about 100 feet from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The El Tovar and its scattered lodges along the edge of the Grand Canyon were built for the classic National Parks family road trip. They offer hearty breakfast buffets, unbeatable views, free parking, and immediate access to the head of the popular Bright Angel Trail (an 8 mile, 4000+' descent to the Colorado River).
If you opt for the hike down, be forewarned that it is very strenuous and splurging on some Nalgene bottles and a souvenir walking stick is necessary.
Return to rest in the El Tover lobby, both a haven for wide-eyed foreign tourists and the terminus of the never-ending dining room queue, furnished predictably in mission-style.
Indeed every postcard, tchotchke and T-shirt in the hotel gift shop induces a wave of nausea-nostalgia, so that it's impossible to forget your family reunion/senior trip/friend's wedding reception and the heavily-syruped side dishes at each.
If staying at the El Tovar, remember these two rules: print a very detailed set of driving directions, and remember that pleat-front khakis with cargo pockets are de rigeur.
Here's a bit of hotel trivia for you: The term "presidential suite" came from the European tradition of "royal suites," but, as we don't have royals (no, the Kennedy's don't count), we termed the best room in the house the Presidential Suite.
In other words, it has nothing to do with whether a president has stayed there or not. Yet, while most hotels use the term as misnomer, not proof of political pedigree, the Presidential Suite at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa can use the title quite literally. Every U.S. president since Herbert Hoover has stayed in the Suite while in office.
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/Super Mom NatalieWW plans a Spring Break the whole family can enjoy.
Believe it or not but college kids aren't the only ones who look forward to Spring Break in March and April. Families like/need a break too.
Right now, I'm thinking about heading to Zion Mountain Resort, near the East entrance to Utah's Zion's National Park. It's either that, Rocky Point or San Diego.
The kids would be jazzed about the rustic ranch setting and all of the adventurous activities the ranch offers. Me, I think the deluxe lodges with modern and even semi-luxurious amenities such as Jacuzzi tubs look great. Dad, well, he'd just be happy this trip wouldn't include shopping. Although there is a gift shop in the lobby...
We can't get enough of our Desert Retreats so here's one more to add to the list.
The Arizona Inn is a luxury boutique hotel in historic Tucson. An AAA four diamond hotel, it's also listed as a Conde Nast Traveler Gold List "World's Best Places to Stay." As one TripAdvisor critic put it, it's one of Arizona's "best kept secrets." The grounds are superb, although not typical for a desert resort.
You may not have heard of the hamlet of Carefree, Arizona. Just think of her as Scottsdale's free-spirited little sister. Founded with the motto, "Home of cowboys and caviar, where the Old West meets the new," and with street names such as Tranquil Trail, Primrose Path, and Ho and Hum Roads, you know the tone here is decidedly laid-back with a touch of whimsy.
The Carefree Desert Resort & Villas takes the relaxed Carefree spirit to the extreme. Sitting on an expansive 54 acres of Sonora high desert, it offers an indulgent way to "get away from it all."
For some, this is not necessarily a good thing, as the resort is far (far) away from the mania of Scottsdale or Downtown Phoenix. This isn't the place you're likely to bump into Paris Hilton or Matt Leinart at a party. In fact, we'd say you are actually more likely to see a jack rabbit or coyote roaming the grounds than a celebrity.
We stumbled upon this intriguing option for staying in-and-around the Super Bowl vicinity and after checking it out, we could care less about who wins the Super Bowl.
Rancho de los Caballeros is a historic ranch/resort located 60 miles northwest of the metro Phoenix area in Wickenburg (and about 30 miles from the stadium itself). Los Caballeros is comprised of a main lodge, 79 guest rooms and suites, 18 holes of golf, a new full-service spa, pool, tennis courts, children's play area, conference facilities, hiking, riding trails and corrals.
And don't forget the 100 horses for exploring the surrounding 20,000 acres of Sonoran desert. The resort has also been chosen one of Golf Magazine's America's Top 75 golf resorts, and is on Travel + Leisure readers "Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World" list.
Should you want to visit in the next few weeks,
a search during the Super Bowl dates reveals rooms in several rates categories are still available, starting at $554/night (normally $462) for the Original Ranch Room:
These rooms are the original ranch accommodations and offer a king sized bed or a double and a twin bed. They have the charm and character of the Southwest and are the favorites of many of the returning guests. Rooms feature a refrigerator, coffeemaker, hairdryer, and private patio. Approx. 310 Sq ft.
But remember, that's with three meals a day, and the Motel 6 around here is going for over $300 during Super Bowl weekend. So, it's actually quite a deal.
If you want to visit after Feb. 3rd, we recommend calling the resort to customize a package deal. For example, for only $100 more than the rack rate and with a 3-night minimum, you get a little time on the links, some time in the saddle, and one spa experience. Super what?
The majestic red rocks and canyons of Sedona, Arizona lure millions of visitors every year seeking desert solitude and inspiration. And late winter is the perfect time to visit Sedona -- temperatures are still cool but the crush of holiday visitors are starting to thin out. And if your one who craves luxury and a little culture with your desert solitude, Mii Amo Spa at the Enchantment Resort is for you.
The setting is in a word, spectacular. Don't be surprised if you find yourself muttering "awesome" even if you're not the kind who says "awesome."
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by amandak
