We stayed at some very very large resorts this year, as well as one micro-boutique hotel. I really want to make a massive shift for this blog to cover and review boutique hotels. I love the charm and character of boutique hotels, and the service is almost always impeccable. Especially in Europe, the folks at a boutique hotel really make you feel like you’re family coming home, and they are always excited to show off their city and give you…
I absolutely adore small boutique hotels, and when possible, I will 100% choose one over a large, chain hotel, no matter the location. This year has been tough in that regard, but for our last trip of the year to Kansas City, I chose the tiny Truitt Hotel, a six room renovated mansion close to the Nelson-Atkins Museum for our 48 hour stint the first week of November, 2023. The Location The Truitt is located on the south side of…
I stayed at the Vdara Resort for the first time on our most recent trip to Las Vegas in early October, 2023, to see a bunch of concerts. The room prices were reasonable, and the location of the Vdara compared to the Dolby Theater and the Sphere were key to my decision as to where to stay this time. While the room was large, and the location excellent, our room was in poor shape and in desperate need of updating….
July 11-15, 2023 We stayed with our two tween/teen kids at the Venetian for a few nights in Vegas this summer. I chose the Venetian since I’d never stayed there before, they had good deals for the nights we would be in town, and I wanted to check out everything this massive resort had to offer, after all, it’s the biggest resort in Las Vegas, and the second biggest in the world! The Location The Venetian is towards the northern…
Coronado, California, USA July 8-11, 2023 We were upgraded to a Beach View Junior suite after a bit of a snafu with the original room that we were offered. This room at the Hotel Del Coronado was a total upgrade from the prior room which had a view of the roof of the hotel, and pretty much nothing else. Definitely check out my Instagram room tour here! The thing that you notice first upon walking into this room is the…
July 8-11, 2023 The Hotel Del Coronado is truly an icon of the west coast of the USA. It’s victorian architecture and bright red roof are unmistakable. In fact, the Grand Floridian hotel at Walt Disney World is based on the Hotel Del! While the Del has undergone some massive-scale remodeling in its common areas, as well as adding entirely new buildings to the property, they still have a lot of work to do, and I believe they are shutting…
Boy, the Four Seasons resorts in Bali really know how to plan an excursion. One of my favorite activities on the whole trip was the “Ocean to Table” excursion, which was extremely special, and you can read about that here. The “Can you keep a secret” tour was no less interesting, varied, and extraordinary, and I highly recommend this tour if you are staying at Four Seasons Sayan. You really need to book in advance, though, because this is a…
When I say I had a pretty relaxing and de-stressing vacation in Bali, I mean it. You can read all about the absolutely amazing Healing Village Spa at the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay here, where I had the incredible Baru Detox treatment. At The Four Seasons Resort in Sayan, I had two spa treatments while staying there for three nights. This resort has two separate spa areas. The first is on the ground floor of the main building. There, you…
I was really excited to write this article, because this was was one of my top dining experiences in Bali. I had heard great things about this dinner a the Four Seasons Bali Resort in Sayan, and booked it way in advance since it is only offered a few nights a week at the resort. It’s pricey, but totally worth it. Sokasi is the word for the baskets that Balinese people use to store and transport their food, mainly rice….
We booked a garden view villa at the Four Seasons Resort in Sayan to round out the second half of our “Bali, Twice the Magic” package through the Four Seasons. You can read all about the property in my overview here, and this article will focus on the villa itself. This resort is well known for its stunning architecture, and the villas themselves are no exception. The roof of each villa is actually a lotus pond, and there are even…