Hotels we love.

HOTELS WE HAVE LOVED

We definitely don’t like to blow our travel budget by staying in expensive hotels, since we really just want to shower and sleep there.  If we’re going to a resort area (like a beach area), then we’ll be inclined to spend more since we’ll spend more time in the hotel.  We have a Starwood Hotels American Express card, so we often stay in some of the best places for free by cashing in our points.   Loyalty has its priveleges, and by always choosing Starwood properties first we often receive perks such as room upgrades and free breakfasts while accumulating points towards future free stays.  We also always sign up for bonus offers (even if we don’t use them, there’s no charge but then we don’t lose out on any bonus points).

A list of hotels that have stood out in our memories

1.  Villa Cipriani, Asolo, Italy.  This was once the home of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Asolo is a good location for exploring the Veneto region.  It’s part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, and the view is indeed luxurious, with elegant and old-fashioned rooms.  http://www.starwoodhotels.com

2.  Sheraton Colonia, Colonia, Uruguay.  A newer hotel and golf resort completed in late 2005.  Off season, you can have the place to yourself.  The indoor/outdoor pool is serene, and they even offer complimentary yoga.  Comfortable and friendly.  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton

3.  Alta Crystal Hotel, Mt. Rainier, Washington.  A great place to stay when visiting the national park.  The suite rooms have kitchenettes and fireplaces, and the little shop rents videos and DVDs (there’s not much else to do at night).  We stopped at a yard sale on the way to the hotel and bought some videos for $1 a piece, which we then donated to the resort’s video library.  They have nightly events, like a smores cookout.     http://www.altacrystalresort.com

4.  Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada.  The spa here is amazing, and there is nothing like swimming in a pool while looking out onto the Rocky Mountains.  http://www.fairmont.com/banffsprings/

5.  The Landmark Inn, Marquette, Michigan.  A historic hotel on the banks of Lake Superior, featured in the film “Anatomy of a Murder.”  You can walk to everything in town and enjoy the view of the lake.    http://www.the landmarkinn.com

6.  The Royal Orchid Sheraton, Bangkok, Thailand.  We were upgraded to a room on the top floor overlooking the river, and it’s just a super place to sit and look out on life along the river.  There’s also a riverboat stop adjacent to the hotel, so it’s convenient for sightseeing.  If you’re tired of Thai food, they have an excellent Italian restaurant, and the pool is nice.  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton

7.  Principe de Savoia Hotel, Milan, Italy  http://www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com/

We spent the final night of our honeymoon here, though I was sick to my stomach from some bad peppers eaten at my cousin’s house in Ravenna the night before.  The rooms are magnificent, the pool is lovely, and the location is great.  Starwood sold this property, but it must still be a great hotel..

8.  Serena Mountain Lodge, Mount Kenya Forest, Kenya.  What makes this place truly great and unique is its location adjacent to a watering hole where animals continually come to drink and lick the salty ground.  You can view the hole from your room or from various points in the lodge.  There is a small spa, and while you get your massage or pedicure, you can look at the window and laugh at the monkeys that come to tap on the glass of the spa windows.  You can add your name to a list so that the staff can wake you in the middle of the night if a particular type of animal comes to the hole.  The food at the lodge is also terrific, and the staff is very friendly and attentive.  http://www.serenahotels.com/kenya/mountainvillage/home.asp

9.  W, Times Square, New York City.  Like many hotels in NYC, the rooms are small, but these rooms have character.  We had a corner room on an upper floor with a super view of Times Square, and we had the good luck to be there during a thunderstorm (which was beautiful to watch).  Their interior design is typical of a W, modern and with an intensely comfortable bed.   You step out the door of the hotel and are right in the heart of Times Square.

We’re not big fans of the W New York because we felt that service was poor during our stay, but W The Court and W The Tuscany are excellent, with larger than average rooms for NYC, flat screen TVs, fun and comfortable furnishings, and terrific service!

10.  Le Meridien, Torino/Lingotto, Italy

Since I’m a car enthusiast, my wife figured I’d enjoy spending a night in the old Fiat factory, now a Meridien hotel.  It’s out of the city center, but accessible by bus, and right across from Eataly (see our Italy food page).  Only hotel guests can get a key to walk on the roof, once the old Fiat test track and now a jogging track.  This is a hotel for business people, which means you can get some great deals on weekends (and lots of quiet).  The buffet breakfast is terrific, and you can squeeze your own blood orange juice.  Since this was a factory, the ceilings are very high, and by European standards the rooms are enormous.  There is a small mall with a supermarket and cinema attached, so even though you’re outside the hub you will not be bored.