20007 Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel Technology / Four Seasons Hotels / → All Tags
Four Seasons D.C. Now Has Fancypants Online Locks
We've given a lot of thought to the technology we want to use to unlock our door when we're staying at a hotel, but all the locking and unlocking of all the rest of the doors is something we never really considered.
But doors to the spa or conference rooms or even the gym obviously need to get locked and unlocked from time to time, and we just heard that the Four Seasons D.C. has got all tech-savvy about it. They've just installed a TimeLox DC-One Online locking system, which is actually nearly as cool as it sounds: it really does mean that staff can lock and unlock doors online.
That means rather than staff needing a pocket full of heavy keys and having to physically go up to the business center to open it at the right time, they can sit at their desk, or with their PDA anywhere in the hotel, and click something, or schedule it ahead of time. Nice for hotel workers, and presumably that also means they'll have more time to take care of us guests personally.
[Photo: Bohman]
Tags: Anti-View / Art Hotels / Washington DC Hotels / Four Seaons Hotels / → All Tags
The 'Spilled Ice Cream' on Four Seasons Washington's Exterior
You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.
We like art. We do. But some art is not for everyone — and, most have to agree: when you're staying at the Four Seasons, you would not look out your window expecting to see something like this, would you?
This is a shot of a part of the exterior of the Four Seasons Washington, D.C., a hotel that is absolutely unique (and very, very cool) in that it has part of the property's owner's private art collection on display throughout the interior of the hotel — and apparently the exterior, too. This particular piece certainly isn't everyone's taste, and this shot comes to us via tombarnes20008's submission to the HotelChatter Flickr pool. He adds:
I've always thought that this sculpture looked like either baby-sick or spilled ice cream.
Yeah, some of us would agree; it's definitely a cool piece, just maybe notsomuch outside our Four Seasons window...especially at $595 per night.
[Photo: tombarnes200008]
Tags: Inauguration Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / Oprah Winfrey / Four Seasons Hotels / → All Tags
Oprah Will Check Into Four Seasons D.C. for Inauguration
Oprah Winfrey has been perhaps Obama's loudest and proudest celeb supporter this year, and the rumor mill has been churning out all sorts of Oprah/Obama rumors since Barack was elected in November. We've heard that she's been planning to tape a couple of special shows in the nation's capitol from the Kennedy Center Opera House, and, thanks to a NY Post story last week, people have been buzzing about the Winfrey possibly purchasing a mansion of her own in Washington to ensure she'd be close to Obama (false).
We're not so sure about that househunting thing now that we've heard (again from the NY Post) that Winfrey is planning to shack up at the Four Seasons during Obama's inauguration week. According to Page Six, she all booked for the $15,000-a-night Royal Suite for five nights around inauguration.
Still not sure whether you're ready to join Oprah and millions of your closest friends at inauguration in January? Check out our brother site Jaunted's Inauguration 2009 complete coverage — and once you've made up your mind to go, drop in and take a look at their tips on how to get there.
[Photo: Sun Times]
Tags: Hotels / → All Tags
Memorial Day Getaway: Patriotic in D.C.
Since Memorial Day was created to honor the men and women who have died in the armed services, the ultimate way to pay homage to these heroes is in Washington, D.C.
At the Four Seasons in swanky Georgetown weekend rooms start at about $375 and offer you complete luxury to relax in after you spend the days touring the nation's capital.
This is a good choice if you are traveling with kids but if you want to step outside your comfort zone try the Topaz Hotel on Dupont Circle. This hotel is trippy with the ambience is described as:
Mystic beats to dance trance. Attendants dressed in sunburst tunics. Vibrant patterns and exotic textures. Transcend the everyday at Washington, D.C.'s most enlightened boutique hotel.
The hotel is offering several deals over the weekend for you to choose from, including one that gives you a $20 gas card and one that involves a his and her massage. Room rates start at around $170.
Related Stories:
· Four Seasons reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Topaz hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Celeb Scoop / → All Tags
Jessica and Ashlee Simpson Snub Sydney Restaurant
Obviously the Simpson sisters would never stay in the Australian hostel visited by the Amazing Racers, but we didn't know that even the Sydney Hilton was too good for them.
While in town for the MTV awards that Ashlee was hosting (doesn't Australia know about the lip-synching?), the sisters headed to a top-notch restaurant within the Hilton, the Glass Brasserie.
But [they] wouldn't eat anything on the delicious menu (steaks, oysters, baby barramundi, chocolate tart etc). So what are two spoiled, hungry celebrities to do? Order in from Pizza Hut - a large pepperoni and double cheese.
Jessica must have learned her lesson from a recent lawsuit. The apparel group behind her fashion line sued her for not actually wearing any of the clothes but as commercial star for Pizza Hut, she's doing a bang-up job.
Related Stories:
· Sydney Hilton reviews [TripAdvisor]
The Cheesy Simpsons [PopBitch]
· Amazing Race 9 Hotel Report: Fun Down Under [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel News / → All Tags
Ritz Awaits Duck's TomKittens
This is the second year that a mother duck chose DC's Ritz Carlton Georgetown to nest, and out of respect, the hotel chef has removed the duck breast entree.
But that's not the only special treatment the duck is getting. She and her 11 eggs are currently:
under the 24-hour watch of the concierge desk, and hotel security checks on the nest every two hours when they make their rounds.
That's like what Katie and Tom had going on while waiting for TomKitten i.e. Suri Cruise to arrive!
Paying guests can also rejoice in duck-o-rama with a small Ritz-Carlton rubber ducky at evening turn down or the hotel's new signature cocktail "Duck Duck Goose" with Grey Goose L'Orange vodka, pineapple juice, a splash of Grenadine and a splash of Sprite.
Related Stories:
· Nesting duck makes hotel change its menu [Political Gateway]
· Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise Have a Girl! [People.com]
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / → All Tags
Anna Nicole Checks into the Four Seasons
In a weird twist, Anna Nicole Smith will be heading to the Supreme Court to contest her late husband's will.
One of our very reliable spies told us that she checked into the Four Seasons in Washington D.C. the other night before her Supreme Court appearance yesterday morning.
Smith was married to J. Howard Marshall II for only 14 months before he died at the age of 90, leaving a $1.6 billion estate which his son Pierce is fighting to keep solely his.
We only wonder if your real name is Vicky Lynn and you change it to Anna Nicole Smith, then marry a man with the last name Marshall, what is your alias? Trim Spa Baby?
Related Stories:
· Supreme Court Hears Anna Nicole Smith Case [Yahoo!]
· Four Seasons DC reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Hotel Deals / → All Tags
Georgetown on the Getgo!
Staying in Georgetown is rarely cheap so when an affordable option comes through, its like striking gold. The Georgetown Suites are located right in mid-Georgetown, a block from the Four Seasons, steps from the shopping and a block away from the infamous waterfront - where a Saturday can be easily wasted away.
The rooms are sparse but entirely efficient. There is no room service but a kitchenette that comes with a coffee maker and coffee and all the necessary glassware/stemware needed to make whatever meal you choose to save on. It is also a good option for business travelers who will be staying for longer than a few days and don't require full service. The gym leaves a bit to be desired, however, its perfectly acceptable, and the hotel is right next to the beautiful Georgetown tow-path along the canals.
The gold is truly in the location and price. Double rooms start at $120 a night and can go to as much as $315 - which is what we paid this past weekend during a very busy weekend.
Related Stories:
· Georgetown Four Seasons Gets It Grad Time [HotleChatter]
· Georgetown Suites Reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Hotel Heaven / → All Tags
Georgetown Four Seasons Gets It Grad-time
[Publisher's Note: HotelChatter's contributing editor meg323 heads to DC for a graduation and scopes out the hotel scene, of course. Feel free to hum Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance as you read this.]
Graduation weekend can be a VERY difficult time to visit a city and a particular pain when booking and staying in a hotel. Since Washington DC plays host to at least 3 universities that all graduate at the same time, staying at a hotel that was still able to pay close attention to the individual guests' needs made all the difference. The Four Seasons of Georgetown certainly got it this past weekend!
Whether it was prompt and efficient housekeeping - which couldn't have been that easy since everyone had very erratic schedules and more than 2 guests to a room - or the bottle of champagne with chocolate covered strawberries left for the graduate and his family to enjoy, attention to detail was always consistent.
Tags: Hotels / → All Tags
13 Bars In An Australian Boutique
Ok let's get one thing straight--In Australian, "Hotel" is simply another word for bar. You know how mahalo and aloha are used to describe almost everything in Hawaiian? Well, in Australian, virtually every word means bar, or drinking, or partying.
Named "One of the 25 Hot New Places to Stay in the World" by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, all the guestrooms at Establishment Hotel sport one of two color schemes-bold or subtle. Guess which is scheme is pictured to the right.
Establishment is located in the Sydney CBD, in the heart of everything. Even if you can't pony up the funds to stay here it may be worth a night time visit to experience one of the many bars.
Mellow bar, pool bar, cigar bar, sushi bar, on and on, you get the idea.
Related Stories:
· Establishment Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
· The Establishment [Gridskipper]
Tags: Hotel Hell / → All Tags
The Ritz Carlton in Georgetown
As one who expects what she pays for and considers the Ritz Carlton brand to be worthy of such assumption, I was sorely disappointed with this chain's second outlet in Washington, DC.
When the plan for a Ritz Carlton in Georgetown came about it seemed only fitting. Georgetown, being the tony enclave of Washington, DC and home already to a Four Seasons and various Inns, it was an obvious choice. But you know something is off when one of the hotel's listed property descriptions is a 14 -screen cineplex.
While the rooms are fine with clean linens and pottery barn-esque furnishings, the restaurant Fahrenheit barely challenges an airplane meal and the bar, Degrees is a pathetic rip-off of bars popular to the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC in the 90s. Exposed brick from the 30s they say - woo woo.
Bottom line: Get a room if you want the convenient location of the bottom of Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown and plan on dining out!
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