Lodging

Mountain Vista Guest Room

How about including warm Arizona sunshine, desert golf and a little pampering in your holiday plans this year at the Omni Tucson National Resort?

Intimate luxury. That’s how General Manager, Danny Goldmann describes the Omni Tucson National Resort. “We aim for a more upscale pampering experience,” he says. Guests are announced from the welcome center as they enter the resort grounds. By the time they reach the front door, an Omni Tucson staff member waits to greet them by name.

Accommodations include a spacious Casita or Hacienda with private balcony and mountain view. The newly renovated rooms of the Mountain Vista Collection sit among winding sidewalks with pockets of outdoor seating. The spacious rooms seem more like residential housing than hotel lodging. The vaulted-ceiling bedroom offers a sitting area with flat panel TV. A five-piece bath includes separate shower and tub areas while plank tiling adds to the motif.

Close by, the resort’s no-edge pool has a classical feel. Four cabanas flank one side near a pool bar. At night, copper bowls, perched on columns, glow with flames bathing the area in romantic lighting.

Bob's Steak & Chop House

Intimate is the word that applies to Bob’s Steak and Chop House. A separate entrance leads to the restaurant’s lobby. Inside, low ceilings mixed with a subdued décor offer a quiet venue for 56 dinner guests. The outdoor patio seats 26 more with the added bonus of a fireplace.

A second restaurant, Legends, sports a pub theme complete with pool table. But it will be hard to stay indoors with a patio overlooking the finishing hole and Pusch Ridge.

Speaking of golf, Omni Tucson offers two distinct courses, one traditional, the other for desert golf lovers. If pampering is more your style, surrender your holiday stress to a Sunshine Sugar Scrub at the Spa, a Mobile 4-Star resort spa.

A holiday escape to Omni Tucson National Resort comes with special holiday rates:
From December 4-30, 2009, room rates begin at $89 for the Casita or Hacienda or $119 for Mountain Vista Guest rooms.

Omni Tucson National Resort
2727 West Club Drive
Tucson, Arizona 85742
Phone: (520) 297-227
Reservations: 1800-843-6664

Photos courtesy Omni Tucson National Resort

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet

As part of a bloggers’ press trip to Belize earlier this month, I spent two nights at the Inn at Robert’s Grove on the Placencia Peninsula, which is on the country’s south-central coast. Upon arrival at the resort — via a 14-seater plane from Belize City, which landed at the tiny Placencia airstrip just a five-minute drive away — I was struck by the incredible lush foliage that envelopes the two-story, hacienda-style accommodations. Towering palm trees, flowering hibiscus bushes and other native plants create pretty landscaping among the eight buildings set on the resort’s 22-acre property. But it’s the hotel’s prime beachfront location that appealed to me, having just arrived from landlocked Colorado. From the pool, the spa, the roof-top Jacuzzis and the restaurant, I appreciated the views of the pretty blue Caribbean Sea.

Accommodations at Robert’s Grove range from standard beachview rooms to “Grand Villa Suites.” My second-floor room (#8, whose balcony you can see in the photo above) was set back from the beach a bit, but I could still see the ocean. Decorated with colorful Mexican-style tiles, vibrant artwork and canary-yellow walls, the room had an upbeat feel — spacious, too, with vaulted ceilings, a large armoire and sitting area, and bigger-than-typical walk-in shower.

If I had one complaint about my accommodations at Robert’s Grove it would be the loud air-conditioning. Unfortunately, non-techy me had a hard time figuring out how to shut it off with the remote control the first night I was there, and it was difficult to sleep through the noise (even with earplugs); thankfully, the second night I got clued-in to the remote (thanks, Kevin!) and slept soundly to the quieter whirring sound of the ceiling fan.

Also, the towels in my bathroom smelled musty, and I wondered if they’d been hanging there for several weeks without use during the summer/fall season, when occupancy is low. My second round of towels provided the successive day smelled much fresher.

Because the resort was so quiet during my early November visit — the pool bars weren’t open and I don’t think I saw one guest lounging on the beach chairs — I’d recommend the Inn at Robert’s Grove to anyone who really wants to get away from it all during their vacation in Belize, but still enjoy all the on-site amenities. Services and amenities here include three pools (including one very pretty infinity pool overlooking the ocean), tennis courts, complimentary use of sailboats, kayaks and bikes, plus a small gym and thatch-roofed spa. The hotel also offers snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing excursions with its own boat and on-site PADI Dive Center, and can arrange other trips — river tubing in Cockscomb Basin, horseback riding and Maya ruin tours — with local outfitters.

For the ultimate in peace and quiet, visit when I did in the fall or in off-peak summer months. Better yet, consider booking one of the resort’s own private islands: Raguana Caye or Robert’s Caye. A stay at one of these small islands — a 30-minute or 60-minute boat ride from the Robert’s Grove Marina on Placencia Peninsula — sounds to me like the ultimate romantic getaway: no phones, no TV, nothing to do but be together and chill (and snorkel and kayak), with three meals prepared for just you every day of your stay. Accommodations appear more rustic than those available at the resort, and rates begin at $457 per person, per night.

I might consider booking a couple nights at one of the private islands and then a few nights on the mainland property for the best of both worlds, and to be able to enjoy a meal off the menu at the resort’s on-site restaurant. Dinner entrees focus on fresh seafood (naturally), and I can personally recommend the perfectly fried conch fritters to start, the savory-and-sweet curry shrimp (available during my visit as part of the “Seafood Trio” special), and creamy banana gelato. The included, daily continental breakfast features lots of fresh fruit (the watermelon was particularly good), pastries and toast; off the menu, my three-egg omelet with feta, peppers and mushrooms was filling.

I can heartily recommend this resort to couples and families who would like a quiet place to rest their heads at night during their vacation in Belize (though high-season Christmas week or other winter holiday times might bring crowds). It is important to note that potential guests should not book expecting the Ritz or Four Seasons, even though The Inn at Robert’s Grove bills itself as a “luxury hideaway.” I believe the term “luxury” might be pushing the envelope a little bit — especially since my successive accommodations in Belize were of higher overall quality (Ka’ana Boutique Resort and Phoenix Resort), offering decidedly more upscale, sophisticated and modern amenities and accommodations.

It’s also key to know that the Inn at Robert’s Grove is not within walking distance to Placencia Village, with its handful of shops, restaurants and services. Once you are at the resort, if you don’t have a car and unless you are taking an off-site outfitter excursion, you’re basically at the resort for good. That said, if your vacation is focused on relaxation and you can feel fully entertained with the on-site pools and spa, as well as the sailboats, catamarans and kayaks for guest use, by all means consider the Inn at Robert’s Grove.

Rack rates for a second-floor beachview room are $175 in the summer/fall, $209 in the winter/spring and $315 over Christmas week. Those rates include complimentary breakfast daily and transfer from the Placencia airstrip.

For more Belize trip-planning advice, check out the Belize Tourism Board’s website.

Photos by Kara Williams.

Sanibel Island is a popular Florida vacation destination on the southwestern coast of the state. In December, it will welcome its first Marriott-branded hotel when the Sanibel Harbour Resort becomes the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa

Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa Exterior

In addition to the name change, the resort will undergo a series of renovations that are expected to be complete by 2011. Among these are the upgrading of rooms in the Sanibel and Captiva Tower rooms with new bedding, flat screen HDTVs and more.

Located on an 85-acre private penisula, the resort offers waterfront rooms, an on-site spa with three pools, and free Wi-Fi property-wide, among other amenities. There’s even a private yacht, the Sanibel Harbour Princess, that offers nightly sunset dinner cruises and a Sunday brunch.

In addition to family vacationers, the resort hopes to appeal to business travelers to the Fort Myers area with 11 meeting rooms encompassing 45,000-sq-ft of meeting space. Also, with the resort now a part of the Marriott family, members of the Marriott Rewards program can earn points towards free stays.

The Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa is currently offering weekend specials for December with rates as low as $129 a night.

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Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa
17260 Harbour Pointe Drive
Fort Myers, Florida 33908 USA
239-466-4000 / 800-767-7777

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[images courtesy Marriott]

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Mexico Skyline photo by Nancy D. Brown

If you are reading this post, it is safe to say that you turn to the internet for your travel research. You are probaby familiar with Facebook and Twitter, as well.

In the know tourism bureaus are just now realizing the power of social media on the web. Facebook fan pages are popping up right and left, as are special lodging deals being offered on twitter. In fact, I was recently part of  the first ever Twitter press trip as a guest of Princess Cruises. The twitter hashtag was #FollowMeAtSea and, pardon the pun, our journey was certainly making waves.

The folks at the Riviera Maya Destination Marketing office have jumped on the social media bandwagon with their Hola Riviera Maya! website, a new twitter account and Facebook fan page. Their press release says the website will offer daily updates on news and happenings throughout the destination, last-minute travel deals and special contests.

Yo Hablo Espanol – Y Usted? (I Speak Spanish – And You?)

I followed them on Twitter today and I see that of 19 tweets from the company, only two were tweeted in English. Seems a bit odd, since their press release states that the site is targeted to the US market.

Dazzle in the Colors of Riviera Maya, Mexican Art

Unfortunately, I am not very familiar with Riviera Maya, so I can’t speak to many first-hand lodging recommendations. In late April of 2009 I stayed in Cozumel, Mexico and stopped there again for a day while cruising on the Crown Princess.

Riviera Maya is situated in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexio. Beginning eleven miles south of Cancun International Airport in Puerto Morelos, the Riviera Maya extends to Tulum, one of the most important archeological sites in the Mayan world. 

All photos courtesy of Nancy D. Brown

Releasing the turtles as part of the wedding ritual.

Turtle weddings in Mexico? What tha??

That was my first reaction. So, what does that actually mean?

Try destination wedding meets ecotourism. In an elegant beachfront resort on the tip of the Baja California Peninsula.

You’ve heard of releasing doves during the ceremony? Well, two couples exchanged their vows at the Marquis Los Cabos this month, and joined by their wedding party and guests, released baby “olive ridley” sea turtles back into their ocean habitat.

This sweet ritual inside a ritual is one of the resort’s ecotourism initiatives, certified by the state-sponsored PROFEPA agency. The resort has been recognized as a sea turtle watch and rescue site, protecting five species of turtle eggs. The eggs are layed in June and hatch as early as October.

The olive ridley is named for the olive color of its heart-shaped shell and it returns every year to its birth site.

As part of their wedding promotional package, the Marquis invites couples wed at the resort to return on their anniversary for a complimentary three-night stay.

Wedding destination packages include accommodations in a casita with private pool, spa treatments, champagne, a wedding coordinator, and other delights. Room rates for groups start at $295.

The 237-suite resort is located at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, minutes from the village of San Jose del Cabo and rock ‘n’ roll destination, Cabo San Lucas.

Though it features a 15,000 square-foot spa and fitness center and the acclaimed Canto del Mar restaurant, the Marquis Los Cabos is not entirely about decadence. In the May/June issue this year, National Geographic Traveler recognized the resort as one of those who give back to their employees in terms of staff health care and education.

Maybe that’s why they call it, the “resort with a heart.” Or maybe it’s because they rescue those adorable little sea turtles.

The Marquis Los Cabos
(877) 238-9399

Photos courtesy of the Marquis Los Cabos

Beautiful New England fall foliage

As autumn rapidly approaches here in the New England area, it’s time to start thinking of fall foliage family getaways. Here are two of the best hotels I’ve enjoyed in the past – both offer fabulous views of this gorgeous season:

The Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, NY

The Whiteface Lodge, located in scenic Lake Placid, NY, is a family-friendly hotel, offering activities for the whole family, in an Adirondack lodge setting.

This all-suite hotel is perfect for families with kids of all ages, because each suite contains separate rooms, and a full kitchen – something many families usually prefer to have when traveling.

Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, Stowe, VT

I’ve visited Stoweflake in Stowe, VT on several occasions, and each time I’m impressed with how relaxing and beautiful it is. While I have gone there with children, I wouldn’t necessarily consider it a “family-friendly hotel”. It’s the perfect romantic hotel location, or would be wonderful as a girl-getaway, as the gorgeous, luxury spa is the nicest I’ve ever experienced!

While many people visit this resort as a ski destination, I’m not a skier, and prefer this hotel in the beautiful fall months, when you can fully appreciate the beautiful Vermont location! Prepare to come back relaxed, and reinvigorated!

What are your favorite hotels for leaf-peeping?

The Whiteface Lodge
7 Whiteface Inn Lane
Lake Placid, NY 12946
800-903-4045
Fall rates: $250-$295 for a junior suite with breakfast

Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
1746 Mountain Road
Stowe, Vermont 05672
800-253-2232
Fall rates: $171 (with advance purchase) – $359

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

The Hilton is perched on a hill over Wine Country

Several weekends ago, my husband and I enjoyed a weekend away in wine country. We brought along our wine-loving pooch and checked into the Sonoma Wine Country Hilton.  I could spend almost every weekend in wine country. Not just because I am a wine swigging aficionado, but also because there are so many different kinds of experiences to be had.  You can laze away a peaceful weekend under the redwoods in the Russian River Valley, drive the scenic winding roads and visit the laid back shops around Healdsburg or dine on gourmet fare and taste at power house wineries in Sonoma and Napa.

The Sonoma Wine Country Hilton is in Santa Rosa and delivers yet another varied wine country experience. It is well-placed for being able to access much of the area, in the heart of Sonoma County but just a short drive to both Russian River and nearby Napa Valley. The actual town of Santa Rosa is a bit less atmospheric than some of its smaller charming neighbors. But, they are only a short distance away. The hotel itself is conveniently close to 101 but tucked back behind a hill and set upon 13 acres of manicured grounds.
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Are you dreaming of watching the lions in the wilds of South Africa? What’s that you say? You’re a Princess? No problem.

When my husband and I chose the all-inclusive Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, located in Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, for our safari headquarters, we fell under South Africa’s spell. And who could blame us? The game drive satisfied our need for adventure while the luxurious accommodations mollified my inner Princess.

At Ivory Lodge, six villas offer seclusion and comfort dressed in contemporary black and white decor. Each villa has its own deck with plunge pool, which separates the living and bedroom areas. In the bedroom wing, the bed sits in front of a wall of windows, making nature the star of your dreams. An oversized oval tub is the focus of the large open bathroom, although nature lovers will enjoy the private outdoor shower.

Across the deck, the living area includes a fireplace, plenty of seating and a telescope for wildlife watching. Books and CD’s on a South African theme introduce guests to local culture. A well-stocked mini bar provides alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Each morning, coffee and muffins are delivered through a dumb waiter located next to the mini bar.

A separate public area houses Ivory Lodge’s dining room, library, lounge and tree-shaded patio. At night, a flashlight wielding staff member escorts guests to the building where they gather in the lounge area for drinks and conversation before being escorted to dinner. The comprehensive dinner menu offers a variety of elegant choices. One night during our stay, we were led by lantern to an outside dining area to dine in front of a roaring fire. Lanterns twinkled from tree branches illuminating tables draped in white linen tablecloths. It felt more like a fairy tale than dinner in the South African bush.

Our accommodations weren’t the only luxurious element at Ivory Lodge. Well-maintained Land Rovers offer tiered seating, two guests to a row, so that all have a good viewing experience. A covered box located between the seats in each row contains binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, rain ponchos and books on birding and animals. During each morning’s refreshment stop, rangers and trackers set up a table with coffee (spiked with Amarula if you wish), fruit juices, granola, smoothies, muffins and small quiches. In the evening, sundowners include champagne, gin and tonics or wine accompanied by a variety of appetizers.

For those who need a rub down after a rough morning in the Land Rover, spa services are available from Ivory Lodge’s sister property, River Lodge, located next door. Guests may also schedule spa treatments in the privacy of their own villa. Don’t you think that every princess should experience a massage beside her villa’s plunge pool? I did.

If you go:
Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
http://www.lionsands.com

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet
All photos courtesy Donna L. Hull

New 5-diamond Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas

Each year when AAA releases its list of 5-diamond hotels in North America, it’s a big deal. This is, in most respects, the most coveted designation out there, equivalent to a restaurant getting the maximum number of Michelin stars. The requirements are strict and there’s little margin for error in amenities or staffing, so this is an elite club that stays quite small. As new hotels are added, others drop off: just because a hotel was awarded 5 diamonds last year doesn’t mean it will earn it again the next.

Five hotels from the U.S. dropped off the list this year, including two in Houston alone: the St. Regis and the Four Seasons—the latter after being 5-diamond for 14 years straight. Two dropped off because of renovations and could return later.

Sixteen new properties were added to the list this year. Three new beach resorts in Mexico made the cut, as well as some notable new hotels and major reopenings after extensive renovations. Las Vegas led the pack with the new Encore, the new Palazzo, and the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas. Two New York hotels made the list after a revamp:  The Plaza Hotel and the now Taj-owned Pierre graduated to the top tier. Santa Fe’s Encantado was the first ever entrant from New Mexico.

California has the most 5-diamond hotels overall, with 20 of the 116 being in that state.

To see the full list, visit the AAA newsroom.

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