Hollywood Hotel-The Hotel of Hollywood

Hotel near Griffith Park, Greek Theater and Hollywood Sign

Short drive to Universal

This four-story hotel offers a convenient location 1 block from the Santa Monica/Vermont Metro station, 3 miles from beautiful Griffith Park, and about 5 miles from Universal Studios Hollywood.

Sauna on every floor

The 1160 Lounge & W.C. Fields Bar features ceiling murals and a marble bar. Every guestroom floor has a sauna. Guests at the Hollywood Hotel fuel up for the day with a complimentary breakfast.

Complimentary Wi-Fi

Guestrooms at this hotel offer a variety of styles and layouts. Each individually furnished room features complimentary wireless Internet access, compact refrigerators, and views of city, courtyard, or the Hollywood Hills.

The Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills

The Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills recently completed a full renovation and redesign of the lobby, meeting space, and all 186 suites. This hidden gem sits just blocks from Rodeo Drive and boasts a boutique-inspired atmosphere that you can afford.

Whether visiting the greater Los Angeles area for vacation or business, the renovations were done with your needs in mind, making this hotel a perfect choice for short and extended stays alike. Guests have the option to begin their day with a workout in the Exercise Room and rejuvenate their muscles in the 20-person whirlpool spa. The ?Great Room? provides a complimentary full hot breakfast buffet every morning and complimentary light fare, sodas, wine and beer in the evenings; Monday through Wednesday.

?We are an all-suite Beverly Hills hotel with kitchens fully equipped with new energy-efficient stainless-steel appliances. The living room areas and bedrooms in each suite are finished with contemporary upscale furniture, a vibrant color scheme with warm woods and finishes along with artwork that highlights Beverly Hills and Hollywood,? said Michael D?Amodio, Area General Manager Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills.

If you are meeting friends or colleagues, Marriott?s ?Great Room? lobby design is just for you. The open room provides ample seating where connecting to the property-wide complimentary Wi-Fi can help you share important work documents or connect with family and friends at home.

For more information about the Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills, please visit the hotel?s website at http://www.beverlyhillsresidenceinn.com.

LF HOTEL REVIEW & VIDEO

It was a cool Thursday evening in Antigua Guatemala, and I was lounging in a four-poster bed covered with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics. Gentle flames crackled in the fireplace as I fell gently into a sound sleep, the silence so complete that the only artificial sound I could hear was the ticking of my portable alarm clock.
That's how I wrapped up my glorious four-night visit to Posada del Angel, a seven-room luxury hotel with style and service that's satisfied the presidents of the United States (Bill Clinton), El Salvador (Francisco Flores) and Guatemala (Alvaro Arzu), as well as former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and a few celebrities who the staff are too discreet to mention.
Posada del Angel is far from the largest hotel in this historic tourism destination, and it's not the only one that offers luxury. So what attracts these well-known guests? Privacy, service and amenities, apparently. The hotel's small size ensures that the each guest is well attended to (and also makes it possible to buy out the entire hotel for a few days, if you so desire).
Posada del Angel expertly combines rustic, Colonial elements with upscale luxury. Interestingly, while the place feels like a historic landmark, it's actually a rather new construction, built by a Texan named Mary Sue Morris some 16 years ago. Her dream was to create a comfortable, luxurious home-away-from-home for travelers, with an ambiance that blends with the city's historic feel.
Morris passed away in 2006, but the two entrepreneurs who bought the property — Ricardo Balzaretti and Enrique Urruela —have aimed to keep the same approach to hospitality. They've even named one of the larger suites after her, and contribute regularly to Becas Mary Sue, a non-profit organization that helps fund education for local children.
Each room here has a name rather than a number, and each is different in terms of layout and decor. But they are consistently beautiful and peaceful, accessed by giant skeleton-like keys and untroubled by telephones. Complimentary wireless Internet access throughout the property (as well as a computer for guest use) assures that you'll stay in touch with anyone you need to, so who needs a phone anyway?
Posada del Angel is a few big blocks away from Antigua Guatemala's Parque Central, the main square — an easy walk during the daytime, but further away than some hotels, which probably helps to make it attractive for seclusion-seeking celebrities. Room rates include a tasty complete breakfast, cooked to order, which is good for providing energy for a day of exploring the city.
I have to admit, I found myself drawn back to the hotel during the day. It was hard to resist the tranquility of the small, open-air living room set next to a narrow lap pool in the central courtyard. And the peaceful view of the city and the surrounding mountains from the rooftop terrace. And the comfort of my very own room. I found myself going to sleep early, waking up early, touring around the city, then coming back to enjoy the relaxed ambiance of the hotel itself. Posada del Angel is the kind of place that you'll want time to savor.

(Please be sure to check out the VIDEO REPORT at the end of this post!)

RATES: $175 and up
Posada del Angel, 4a Avenida Sur #24A; tel. +502-7832-0260 or in the USA +305-677-2382; www.posadadelangel.com

Sleek Island Style at San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico

Do you like to be the center of attention, or at least, in a place that’s the center of attention? Let the newly renovated Red Coral Lounge at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino be your excuse to get out of the cold this winter, and on a plane to Puerto Rico.
The lobby lounge is the focal point of the hotel, right in the center of its lobby. It’s a place where you can enjoy live local music with a cocktail, or relax in a corner and have a private conversation. The rich, earth tones and wood finishes are highlighted with vibrant colors and metal accents that keep the lounge at the center of attention. Even the lobby artwork, created by renowned local artists, is part of the new look.
But the hotel isn’t just the Red Coral Lounge. Once you’ve spent your time there, you can enjoy meals in the La Vista Latin Grill & Bar or Ristorante Tuscany & Wine Bar. Prefer dining by the beach? Pick the La Isla Beach Bar and Grill for when you’re lounging at the pool or getting some sun on the beach. Ready to try your luck? Head into the casino to see if you can go home with some winnings.
Even your room at the San Juan Marriott is a place you want to be—and with the San Dollar package, you can get your fourth night for free. The package also includes free daily breakfast for two at La Vista Restaurant, and is good through April 30, 2012.
Now, what’s the reason to stay at home in the cold this winter

2 06 /09 /Sep /2011 07:04 Challenge USA - Colorado - Hôtel Stanley

COLORADO
 

L'état doit son nom aux explorateurs espagnols qui nommèrent la rivière locale : Rio Colorado, à cause de la couleur de ses eaux, charriant des poussière de grès rouge, très présent sur le territoire. A l'est, de hautes plaines puis les Montagnes Rocheuses, qui descendent en un vaste plateau, aboutissant à l'ouest sur un bassin aride. Le climat s'y calque : montagnard à l'est avec des hivers froids et d'importantes précipitations, beaucoup plus chaud et sec à l'ouest. La capitale du COLORADO est Denver.
 
Et mon sujet d'aujourd'hui est le Stanley Hotel, qui inspira The shining à Stephen King lors d'un séjour... étrange ! 
 

 

 
L'hôtel Stanley se trouve à Estes Park, dans les Rocheuses. Construit par Freelan O. Stanley, il ouvre en 1909, offrant 138 chambres de luxe, avec une magnifique vue sur les montagnes, à une clientèle fastueuse.
 
Stanley, inventeur et homme d'affaires, souffrait de tuberculose et vint séjourner dans cet endroit sur les conseils de son médecin. Lui et son épouse, logés dans un modeste refuge, tombent amoureux de la région. La santé de Stanley s'améliore considérablement. Il décide donc d'investir et de bâtir un bel hôtel, afin que d'autres puissent bénéficier de la beauté de ce lieu et de la qualité de son air. La construction débute en 1907, dans un style néo-géorgien, à la mode en ce début de siècle. Confortable (pour l'époque), l'hôtel a l'eau courante, l'électricité, le téléphone... mais pas de chauffage car il est prévu de l'ouvrir uniquement l'été.  
   
 
Et puis bien des années plus tard, la légende s'installe... l'hôtel serait hanté ! De nombreuses personnes affirment avoir entendu le piano jouer dans la salle de bal, ou les rumeurs d'une grande fête... mais quand on arrive, la salle est vide. Les employés pensent que le fantôme qui hante les lieux est celui de l'épouse de Stanley, qui était une pianiste émérite. D'autres visiteurs prétendent avoir vu des fantômes dans les chambres, notamment un homme qui se cache dans le placard dès qu'on ouvre la porte. Le placard s'avère être vide bien sûr lorsqu'on ose aller y jeter un coup d'oeil !
   
Une émission de télévision, Ghost Hunters, spécialisée dans les phénomènes paranormaux, est venue enquêter. Ils ont pu donner une explication rationnelle à certaines manifestations, mais n'ont pas trouvé de solution pour tout ce qui se passe dans la salle de bal. Ils affirment par ailleurs avoir bien décelé la présence de fantômes : ils ont vu des gens dans les corridors, qui partaient se cacher, ils ont entendu des enfants courir et jouer devant eux, vu un lit s'élever dans les airs, des portes s'ouvrir, un miroir se briser...
 

      

 
D'autres sociétés, très sérieuses, dont certaines mandatées par le gouvernement, sont venues examiner les lieux. Mêmes conclusions : des choses explicables... et d'autres non.
   
Et Stephen King a donc séjourné là, avec sa femme, alors que l'hôtel était quasiment vide, à la fin de l'été. Evidemment, cela lui a donné quelques idées !
 
Une série télé, dérivée du roman, a été tournée là, mais le film Shining, lui, a été shooté - désolée de casser le mythe - à Timberline Lodge, dans l'Oregon :
     

Caesars Hotel

L'hotel ou y a tous les magasins de nos reves : Gucci, Louis Vitton, Dolce Gabbana... du coup avec Channing on les a tous fait mais vraiment juste pour regarder...
Et l'hotel ou il y a aussi la fontaine de Trevis !

The Hotel Opening London UK

Where being green dosen’t mean you have to compromise on style, luxury or comfort

Rafayel on the Left Bank, on Battersea’s new bohemian Left Bank, is set to be one of the world’s first ‘green’ hotels. Officially opening in December 2009, this 5-star hotel is part of the pioneering Falcon Wharf Development, and a blueprint for future hotels.

Rafayel is the first of a dynamic concept headed by developer Mr Ike Latif, who aims to create a branded product that embraces technological advances yet is ecologically aware.

Showcasing the latest technological advances in LED lightings, air-conditioning and VDA efficiencies, Rafayel will minimise our impact on the environment by reducing each guest’s carbon footprint dramatically. The average London guest notches up a colossal carbon footprint of 70kg per night; at Rafayel it will be reduced to a manageable 17kg. A complete LED hotel, Rafayel will reduce overall electrical costs by a staggering 80% too: a glimpse into the future for hotels and homes alike.

Rafayel’s interior design is sleek and modern, yet retains a warm charm through its bespoke furnishings. The hotel has a myriad of state of the art facilities, including: 65 guestrooms all with state of the art technology, 15 apartments, 2 restaurants with indoor and outdoor dining, bar, lounge, spa with gym and pool, meeting room, conference hall to accommodate 150, coffee shop, brasserie, and to top it all, a florist. The hotel’s curved blocks create stunning 360° views of London from the roof terrace. Many rooms enjoy expansive views over the river and city skyline, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding them with natural daylight.

The waterfront restaurant, Banyan on Thames, with its crystal bar overlooking the river, will offer inspired cooking: its distinctive Indo-Japanese roots fuse with Chinese and Indian spices and simple Italian ingredients, all presented in a refined French style. Rafayel’s restaurants will offer both formal and casual dining, breakfast, morning brunches, and traditional afternoon tea, a first in the Battersea area.

The Rafayel Wa Michi Wellbeing spa will be run by award-winning Content alongside Wellworld Spas. Combining holistic health and beauty treatments, spa clients will be free to choose from locally sourced beauty brands as well as a selection of the world’s finest organic brands. Guest rooms in the hotel will be furnished with natural Content own brand body products.

The hotel’s developer Mr Ike Latif aims high at low emissions, but believes - ‘‘there is no need to return to Stone Age living. Being “green” should be our overall goal, but without compromising on the luxury that the modern age offers us’’. He continues: ‘‘The concept of the hotel on the Capital’s new Left Bank in the culturally prosperous environ of a bustling Battersea is a key step forward in formalizing the intellectual renaissance of Battersea, not unlike the discovery and patronage of the Seine’s Rive Gauche by intellectual greats like Sartre, de Beauvoir, Zola, Camus or Hemingway and Fitzgerald’’

At Rafayel on the Left Bank Mr Ike Latif hopes to offer guests exceptional value for a luxurious stay in a conscience-free oasis. The story doesn't say whether Internation travellers will find the Battersea area attractive enough compared to the West End.

The Hotel Opening (1) - W Barcelona

This is a new weekly section of Hotel Blogs where we will feature interesting and innovative new hotel openings all around the world. This will be based on releases we receive but also on the amount of pictures/videos available to preview the hotel. Pictures and videos are worth much more than 1000 words on a hotel description.So I couldn't imagine a better way to start this new serie of posts witht the W hotel opening in Barcelona on the 1st October.
I have checked their website and I could find a nightly rate on a Friday night at €283.55 (taxes included).
You can already book the hotel on Expedia or Booking but don't think you will get a better deal. There is rate parity (for now) with their website and these two online travel agents.
The hotel has built their Facebook page with more than 200 fans already. People talk about the hotel opening on Twitter and of course the hotel has their own Twitter account @W_BARCELONA.
Apparently this new opening in the luxury cool hip market will probably going to hurt established hotels like Hotel Arts. And you can see why on Google (see the sponsored link and the search)...cheeky marketing techniques!