Review: The Westin Sacramento
The property used to be a boutique hotel called the Le Rivage, which was built in 2008 to the tune of $28 million. About 3 years ago Starwood took over the hotel and renovated it to turn it into a Westin.
Trip Reports
Magic in Japan: Day in Hiroshima
A watch in the museum has the hands frozen in time at 8:15 and outside the Peace Clock Tower chimes gently each day at the exact moment the world changed.
Room Service Review: Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
I’m a breakfast all-day sort of person. Add that together with my frequent travel and an…
Hotel Review: Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
Full of light-catching chandeliers and ample seating the lounge oozed with Southern charm. “Would you like a mimosa, Miss?” asked a lounge attendant brightly in a slight drawl.
Magic on a NCL Cruise: Morning in Kusadasi, Turkey
The spot was heavily wooded with many trees, and they rustled quietly in the gentle breeze. The mist that hung in the air gave the surrounding hills an ethereal beauty.
Magic on a Cruise: Day in Piraeus, Athens Greece
We followed the directions diligently, and eased the small car through tight spaces that seemed meant for one vehicle at a time only. Finally GoogleMaps announced proudly, “you have reached your destination” as we came to a dead end. But…where was the Temple of Poseidon built in 440 BC?
Magic in Japan: Day Trip to Miyajima
Traipsing down the path I came to a halt as one nimble deer followed by another leapt across my path and folded themselves up delicately to take a nap in the sunshine. I quietly snuck out my camera and was busy snapping away before I saw another deer out of the corner of my eye…and another.
Magic in Japan: Hotel Review – Sheraton Hiroshima
She didn’t have an answer but kept repeating that we were in a Club level King room and that the Suites were unavailable. I asked if they were all occupied and she said no, but wasn’t able to provide a satisfactory answer as to why I couldn’t stay in one unless paying for that specific room type.
Magic in Japan: Getting to Hiroshima
What a treat! It was what is officially known as Japanese government exclusive aircraft, or more commonly known as Japanese Air Force One used by the Emperor and Prime Minister. I have to admit I was more than a little in awe of it.
Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Dubai
I stared out the tinted window as caramel colored dunes were replaced by tall buildings, and it wasn’t long before the car slowed as it turned to pull up the long driveway to the Park Hyatt Dubai.
Magic in Japan: Park Hyatt Tokyo Revisited
After Kyoto I couldn’t resist sneaking in a night at the famed Park Hyatt Tokyo before heading to Hiroshima. I’ve stayed there many times before as I figure many readers have, but it is a favorite of mine. The outstanding staff, suite and breakfast all blend together for a fantastic stay. To me it is one of the top aspirational chain properties in the world that is absolutely worth the stay, if even for one visit or night.
Room Service Review: Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
After a quick nap that turned into a longer slumber, I called down to order some Tempura and Udon noodles for dinner. There was no separate button on the phone for room service, so I just called the operator who transferred me. Unfortunately, the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto’s highly-rated Mizun restaurant had closed at 9:30pm and it was 9:45. Drat, I had just missed it.
Magic on NCL Jade Cruise: Day in Olympia Greece
Seeing that we had a confirmed reservation it made sense to us that he would have held the regular car for us and given the huge, expensive van to a walk-in without a reservation but would the agent see it that way?
Magic in Japan: Day 2 in Kyoto
A coffee shop is not always just a coffee shop in Japan. There’s Moomin cafe, where solo diners can sip a beverage seated next to a huge life-sized stuffed animal so they don’t feel lonely (either the stuffed animal or the patron). Then there are the super popular animal cafes. You pay a small cover charge, and once inside you can pet and play with the animals to your heart’s content.
Magic in Japan: Day 1 in Kyoto
It was cool and misty, and people walked quietly through the torii, stopping to take selfies and pictures of their friends making peace symbols with their fingers. Tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet called a bird softly in the distance, and there was something calming about following the winding paths.
Hotel Review: Renaissance Malmo Hotel, Sweden
I was visiting friends from the Bonusfeber community and the Renaissance Malmö was the perfect location…
RItz-Carlton Tahoe: Revisited
Sliding under the covers I got ready to turn out the light, but my husband felt that something wasn’t right with the sheet at the end of the bed. The sheets were luxuriously soft but maybe the sheet was just bunched up, and we pulled down the cover to take a look.
Hotel Review: Hilton Garden Inn Napa
Most Hilton Garden Inn’s aren’t my first choice when it comes to hotels. The Hilton Garden…
Magic on NCL Jade Cruise: Review of Penthouse Suite 10166
We were excited to see our room, and it was finally time! Norwegian Jade’s Penthouse Suite 10166 is also known as a Romance Suite, since it used to be sold as a room for 2, with a maximum of 3 guests instead of 4. It is located on Deck 10, in the very back of the ship (aft). This turned out to be a fantastic location and I’m now an absolute fan of these staterooms. True, pretty much all of the restaurants and activities were forward, but that just meant a bit more exercise which balanced out with all the extra desserts and goodies onboard.
Hotel Review: Bellagio Las Vegas
I made a reservation through Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts for the Bellagio hotel in Las…
