Lodging

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Willows, California Travel Lodge

“Willows is our place to stop for donuts or we’ll have breakfast at Denny’s, “notes my teenage son. This is the place where my husband and son stay for cheap, budget, no-frills lodging on their way to a weekend of hunting. 

It’s not upscale and it’s not fancy, but at $60 for two queen beds, the Travel Lodge in Willows, California fits the bill.

If you want something a little more new and upscale, consider the Holiday Inn Express in Willows.

My husband and son got a late start on their travels and arrived at the Travel Lodge around midnight. My son remembers that check in was a slow, painful process. Perhaps it was painful because he was tired. His recollection of check in was that it took a very long time.

When I asked about the room, the quality of the beds and the cleanliness of the bathroom, he said that he was so tired, that any mattress would have felt good. He said the bathroom was clean, but dated. So there you have it. A night at the Willow’s Travel Lodge at $60 per night, plus tax.

Photo courtesy of Nancy D. Brown

Travel Lodge (503) 934-4603

249 North Humboldt Ave. Willows, CA 95988

Vacationers can usually be split up into two categories. Although there are a few other smaller categories, travelers usually find themselves vacationing in either luxury hotels or budget hotels. If you fall into the category of travelers who spend most of your vacations in budget hotels, might I suggest a new type of lodging that has slowly begun to catch momentum and that is vacationing at a state park.

Devils Fork State Park South Carolina Cabin

Now if you’re one of the millions of people who detest tent camping and pop-up campers, then I’m still talking to you. When I talk about vacationing at a state park, I’m not talking about tying your tents and sleeping bags to the top of your Griswald family station wagon. After all, we’re talking about a vacation here. State parks around the U.S. are starting to catch on to the idea of offering accommodations for travelers that go beyond the typical state park campsites. These state parks are offering vacation cottage and cabin rentals that are fully-equipped for travelers who are looking for a vacation from anywhere from a weekend to a long week.

Before driving to  the nearest state park and spending a week-long vacation in a state park cottage, I suggest a few tips. First of all, do your research. Many of these cabins offer only the bare essentials and amenities that don’t exactly warrant the label “luxurious”. I’ve stayed in more than one cabin that gave me a stiff back every morning I woke up. I also suggest reserving the deluxe or upgraded cabin if they have something up from the standard cabin.

When staying at a state park cabin or cottage, you’re getting many of the same amenities you would have when staying at a beach house. There are often a couple bed room choices, a full kitchen, living room and dining area. Since it is a state park, many have fire places or at least a fire ring outside. As I alluded to earlier, the bedding can be hit or miss, so make sure you do your homework. The bedrooms are the same size you would have at many hotels and often include an adjoining bathroom, dresser and either one or two beds. 

Vacationing at a state park is usually best suited when traveling with large groups, where you can rent several cabins together. It offers the relaxation and slowed down pace you expect on a vacation without the big city attractions. Start by looking at the state parks in your state to find the best state park cottages near you.

Photo from scmikeburton on Flickr.

Smiley's Schooner Saloon & Hotel has an Old West appeal.

Quirky doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Bolinas is known for many things — surfers, hippies, artists,  drunks, poets, potheads, the Jefferson Airplane beach house,  Richard Brautigan’s suicide, and dogs. Lots of stray dogs.

A lush gardens path leads to the bunalows.

As a deterrent to tourists, the local residents  have a tradition  of removing the sign that indicates the turnoff to their seaside hamlet. In the 20 years I’ve been visiting, I’ve never seen a sign.

But every time I go, I make it a point to stop at Smiley’s, the saloon in the middle of town that claims to be one of the oldest in California, established in 1851, and that has served up hooch straight through Prohibition.

I like to go there for the cheeseburger — thin, flat, not too much bun, cooked in a toaster oven, and the atmosphere — scruffy, Old West, and populated with dodgy, hard-drinking characters who play pool and dice games. There is usually a mutt or two on the front porch.

I knew Smiley’s had a hotel that I figured was above the bar and would look like a set from a Deadwood episode. But when I asked the bartender, he showed me to a few cute bungalows behind the bar in a lush overgrown garden that reminded me of the Filbert steps in San Francisco. It was quiet and quite serene back there — a very different ambiance than the saloon, which hosts live music several nights a week.

The rooms are small and spartan but comfortable — no phones or television, but free WiFi. They’ll set you back a whopping $74 on weekdays/$84 on weekends.

The locals may try to keep it a secret, but Bolinas is a Northern California experience worth having. If you can find that is.

Accommodations are behind Smiley's pub.

it, that is.

Smiley’s Saloon & Hotel
Established 1851
41 Wharf Road., Bolinas, CA
(415) 868-1311

Photo credit: Lisa Dion

A view of the Animal Kingdom Resort Lobby

As a Walt Disney World Mom, I’ve been to quite a few of the properties on site at Walt Disney World, but I have to admit that my family’s favorite is the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the newer Walt Disney World hotels, and as you may guess, it’s located closest to the Animal Kingdom. As a result of that, it’s a little further from the other resorts, which was one of our concerns before we got there – and a concern I often hear from other families.

When my family went, we flew through Orlando International Airport and took the Disney Magical Express. Because of that we were able to bypass baggage claim and headed right to the Magical Express counter. The airport was actually much more crowded than I expected, and it took a while to navigate through the airport. There were quite a few lines at the elevators which extended the journey. I generally find that if you travel during peak hours, it can take a while to get from the airport to the resort.

The view from our savannah-view room

Animal Kingdom Lodge is built on a 33-acre wildlife preserve with three savannahs, and over 30 species of wildlife. We had booked a savannah view room, which meant that we’d be able to see animals outside our porch door. This definitely did not disappoint! I think our kids actually preferred watching the animals to going to the parks! The room itself was clean and nice, but a bit on the small side. Because we didn’t spend much time in the room, it wasn’t a problem at all.

While we were there, we ate at the buffet restaurant, Boma, and swam in the pool. Boma was lots of fun – it’s got a great atmosphere and the food is excellent. Despite the fact that the food is African, there are plenty of choices for children also. We ate breakfast and dinner there. The pools are also great. My kids did prefer the heated baby pool, but the larger pool is wonderful.

Bus service was easier than expected. With only one bus stop at the resort, the buses traveled quickly, and the time to the resort was very quick. The buses were never too full either.

Most evenings, we wandered around the resort, checking out the various animals. Each savanna has different animals to see, so even if you have a savannah view room, it’s worth walking around. We saw an amazing assortment of animals – every single day!

Animal Kingdom Lodge is an amazing resort, and it’s likely that your whole family will love the experience!

Animal Kingdom Lodge
2901 Osceola Parkway
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 939-7429

Standard rooms range from $240 (value season) to $515 (peak season) per night.

Photo credits: Jodi Grundig

By the time November comes around, New York City is buzzing with excitement.  It seems everyone is planning something: parties, trips, parades, festivals, shopping sprees.  Hotels, restaurants, and stores are all gearing up to serve not only the residents, but also the tourists, and it all starts off with one of the biggest celebrations of the year: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The parade has changed its route for 2009 and is as follows: It begins on 77th St & Central Park West, turning east onto Central Park South.  When the Parade reaches 7th Ave, the procession will turn south at the corner of Central Park South and march to 42nd St.  Traveling east along 42nd St from 7th to 6th Aves (Avenue of the Americas), the Parade will then head south and march to 34th St..  At 34th St., the procession will head west to Herald Square ending at 34th St. and 7th Ave.

This means that The London NYC is now just around the corner and makes accessing the Thanksgiving Day Parade that much easier. Located on W. 54th and nestled between 6th & 7th Ave., The London NYC is a wonderful option,whether you are visiting for the season or for the day.  Anyone that has been to the parade knows that it can often lead to long waits outside on a cold day.

The London NYC offers the option to book your room, park your car and walk to 7th Ave. and watch the spectacular floats go by. Also, The London NYC offers a cozy place to step inside, warm up and enjoy the delicious food and beverages in Gordon Ramsey’s award winning restaurant. For more information on the hotel go to www.thelondonnyc.com.

Photos courtesy of The London NYC

As with most tourist attractions, there are plenty of hotels around the Legoland theme park in San Diego, California. But until now, there hasn’t been an actual hotel at the popular attraction.

Las Vegas' Excalibur Hotel at Legoland

That will all change as Legoland says they are planning on building a Lego-themed resort.

The local Carlsbad City Council gave the approval for the proposed 254-room hotel to be built right next to the park at its October 27 meeting.  According to Legoland, the hotel will reflect the different aspects of the park, and of course, heavily feature Legos in the decor.

Basic rooms will feature bedding, carpets and wallpaper with instructions on how to make different Lego creations. Premium rooms at the hotel will borrow from different popular areas of the park. For instance, there will be a pirate-themed room that continues the fun of the Pirate Shores area of the park.

The hotel itself will reportedly have a serpentine shape around the pool, with a colorful exterior reflective of the way Legos come in many colors. Legoland says their hotel will very much appeal to families with younger children.

There is no time frame attached to the completion of the hotel, yet, but most likely it will be two to three years before the hotel is built, given the current economy.

This sounds like a fun hotel. It’d really be cool if they actually built some of the furniture out of Legos. After all, if a Barbie suite in Vegas can have plastic furniture, why not a Legoland hotel?

What do you think? Would you stay at a Lego-themed hotel?

[Photo courtesy of Legoland]

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Hotel Cheval in Paso Robles

Paso Robles is growing up. No longer the sleepy little town, Paso is known for its wine country and sophisticated dining. And while kids used to ride their horses into town, the only horse you’ll find cruising the streets of Paso Robles is Chester, a 2,000 pound Belgian draft horse.

Chester – The Horse of Course

Chester is the official mascot of Hotel Cheval. The former work horse from Big Prairie, Ohio has seen his last days of pulling plows and now carts guests of the Hotel Cheval to and from downtown Paso Robles in a handsome vintage vis a vis carriage.

With only 16 rooms, Hotel Cheval offers its guests luxury and privacy in this Central Coast location. From the outdoor stone wood-burning fireplaces to the horse shoe-shaped zinc Pony Club bar, visitors will enjoy a bit of the old ranching life, while keeping both boots firmly planted in the good life.

Chester Takes Guest from Hotel Cheval

Hotel rooms range from $225 weekdays to $325 on the weekends. Hotel Cheval is pet-friendly with a $30 charge per pet, each day.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Cheval

Hotel Cheval 1 (866) 522-6999

1021 Pine St.  Paso Robles, CA

There’s a party going on in Santa Fe, New Mexico. That’s right. The oldest capital city in the United State is celebrating its 400th birthday. The Eldorado Hotel & Spa is joining in the festivities by giving travelers a present. Guests of the four-diamond property will receive the third night free; a 33% savings value starting at $219.

Located next to historic Santa Fe Plaza, Eldorado Hotel & Spa offers 219 non-smoking guest rooms, complete with 32” flat-screen HD-compatible televisions, terry-cloth bathrobes, a workstation with task light, high-speed internet access, overstuffed lounging furniture paired with a reading lamp and tables, a refrigerated mini-honor bar and optional turndown service. A selection of larger Deluxe rooms feature wood-burning kiva fireplaces and shared terraces.

While you’re staying at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, enjoy the $100 discount on a 24-karat gold facial offered by the Nidah Spa. The golden 80-minute treatment tightens and brightens skin.

Although I haven’t stayed at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, it sure sounds convenient for attending Santa Fe’s birthday festivities. Since both promotions are valid through December 30, 2009, there’s still time to plan a visit to the 10th Annual Santa Fe Film Festival (Dec. 2-6, 2009) or the Winter Spanish Market (Dec. 12 and 13, 2009).

To book this special at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, use the ‘Super Saver’ rate code PROSSS at www.eldoradohotel.com or call (800) 955-4455

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet

All photos courtesy of Eldorado Hotel & Spa

Comfort Suites Bedroom

When our family of six can find a hotel room for under $100, we consider it a bargain, especially if it includes free breakfast in the morning.  Thus, we were delighted to find the Comfort Suites in downtown Minneapolis on a recent outing to the Twin Cities.

The Comfort Inn and Suites is located on the eastern edge of Minneapolis’ downtown, near Hennepin County Medical Center and the Metrodome.  We were there to attend a Timberwolves game at Target Center, and because the hotel is connected to the Minneapolis Skyway System, we left our coats in the hotel room and walked to the game.  It took us about 25 minutes to get to the game, but we could have done it faster without preschoolers’ little legs.

The hotel, which apparently was formerly an Embassy Suites, sits atop the parking structure so that the lobby is on the 8th floor.  Checkin was friendly and efficient, and complimentary coffee and cookies were available in the lobby.

Comfort Suites Living Room

Our room was across from the courtyard on this main floor.  Spacious, it included two double beds, a large sofa sleeper, a table and four chairs, and a bar area.  TV’s in both the bedroom and living area as well as three sinks in the room were nice amenities.  We also had a microwave and refrigerator.  Our beds and pillows were comfortable.  We did hear some noise from the room next door, but were fortunate to have relatively quiet neighbors.

In the morning, we enjoyed a superb breakfast of all the usual hotel-breakfast items, plus made-to-order omelets and other fare.  This is honestly the best free hotel breakfast we’ve had, and there was plenty of seating available for the popular meal.  I enjoyed using real plates, cups, and tableware instead of styrofoam and plastic.  The food was good, and even the pickiest eaters found something they liked.

The downside was minimal–a few scrapes on the wall and carpet that is beginning to fray, the inconvience of having to return to the car with a permit after checking in, and insufficient staff at checkout time, but for a room for which we paid less than $90, I’m not complaining.

Comfort Suites

Comfort Suites Breakfast Area

425 7th St S
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 333-3111

Photo credits:  minnemom on flickr

Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children.

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The Galt House and the Louisville skyline

When booking a room in Louisville’s Galt House Hotel and Suites you’ll have to pick: newer room or bigger room.

The RIVUE (East) Tower, which was renovated in 2006, has 591 suites and deluxe rooms. The SUITE (West) Tower has larger rooms than the East Tower, featuring 600 executive suites, including premium ones with waterfront balconies, but they’re a bit older.

The rooms are clean but lack the amenities many guests expect from an upscale hotel, with the notable exception of complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the building. Located on the waterfront, many rooms in both towers offer expansive views of the Ohio River and neighboring Southern Indiana, although the scene isn’t particularly notable.

Rates range from $169 to $950, but the Galt House does offer specials.

Online reviews yielded mixed experiences with the service: some guests raved about their treatment, but most others complained. It’s not too surprising that most reviews were less than stellar though: a few months ago I was sitting in the back of a Louisville bus next to a sweaty guy in a t-shirt who was pounding beers. We started talking. He was a Galt House employee on his way to work, albeit two hours late.

A room with a view of the Ohio River

Another knock on the Galt House is that all of the elevators go to all floors, meaning if you’re on a higher floor, getting to and from your room can take a while. So plan accordingly or ask to stay on a lower floor.

The 10,000 square foot, three-story glass conservatory that connects the two towers also offers  sweeping views of downtown Louisville and the mediocre Ohio. It has free Wi-Fi and houses Thelma’s Deli and Al J’s lounge, but if you’re looking for local flavor, you won’t taste it here (a common line at the bar seems to be “Have you ever been to Louisville before?”).

Al J’s bar is a long fish tank, albeit sparsely populated (although it’s possible I’d scared the fish to the other end). It has a lengthy martini menu, including–no surprise for Kentucky–whiskey martinis. Its cocktail prices, however, are geared towards drinkers on a per diem, but $4.75 for a Guinness is reasonable.

The Galt House's conservatory houses a deli and lounge

While the conservatory has a modern feel, much of the rest of the hotel’s common areas are dated. For example, the Archibald Cochran Ballroom in the West Tower is ahead of its time, but its time is 1973.

The Galt House’s location is ideal for taking advantage of downtown Louisville’s entertainment, dining and nightlife options. The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory,  the Muhammad Ali Center and Fourth Street Live! (a popular, if gentrified, evening playground that attracts twentysomethings) are just a few blocks away.

And it’s just a cheap taxi drive from the Galt House to Bardstown Road and its eclectic mix of independent bars, restaurants and stores that help “keep Louisville weird,” a popular slogan around town.

It’s also a 10-minute drive to Churchill Downs, but getting a reservation at the Galt House on Kentucky Derby weekend can be difficult and expensive. (Check this article for information on events that are cheaper than the Derby, namely because they are free.)

The Galt House’s rates, size and proximity to Louisville’s attractions (including the Kentucky International Convention Center) make it a popular destination for conferences.

All photos courtesy of Galt House.

The Galt House Hotel and Suites
140 N. 4th St.
Louisville, KY 40202
502-589-5200