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	<title>Miss Hotel Snob</title>
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	<description>A personal review of my hotel experiences.</description>
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		<title>Miss Hotel Snob</title>
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		<title>The Parker, Palm Springs &#8211; California</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2012/10/04/the-parker-palm-springs-california/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2012/10/04/the-parker-palm-springs-california/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:40:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Palm Springs]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Out of all the Starwood Hotels I have stayed at so far, I have to admit The Parker &#8211; Palm Springs is one of my favorites.  The Parker &#8211; Palm Springs was a nice tucked away resort in the heart of Palm Springs, located just about 5 minutes away from the main strip.  The Parker [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=323&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Out of all the Starwood Hotels I have stayed at so far, I have to admit The Parker &#8211; Palm Springs is one of my favorites.  The Parker &#8211; Palm Springs was a nice tucked away resort in the heart of Palm Springs, located just about 5 minutes away from the main strip.  The Parker is secluded, if you&#8217;re not paying close attention, you may miss the entrance.</p>
<div id="attachment_324" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/parker-entrance.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-324" title="Driveway into The Parker - Palm Springs" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/parker-entrance.jpg?w=300&#038;h=241" alt="" width="300" height="241" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">*Photo courtesy of theparkerpalmsprings.com</p></div>
<p>Palm Springs during the summer is definitely hot. Stayed here on July 13th, 2012 and the temperature outside was approx. 98+ degrees farenheit.  But, as soon as Valet whisks your car away, you couldn&#8217;t help but notice the huge orange-colored entry door into what you would least expect to be a &#8220;perfect&#8221; retreat for a weekend getaway.</p>
<div id="attachment_325" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0809.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-325" title="The Parker - Entry to Lobby" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0809.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Entry to The Parker &#8211; Palm Springs</p></div>
<p>A few friends of mine have raved about this hotel, which made me inclined to book a night to see what this hotel was all about.  Of course I had an idea in my mind of what this hotel looked like, the gallery showed the key features of what this hotel had to offer. But, I had much more appreciation being able to stay in such a fabulous Palm Springs retreat. As you open the double orange doors, you immediately walk into a vintage/chic lobby, with an art deco feel.  I was utterly impressed as I walked into the lobby and it was nice to be greeted by the front desk as you&#8217;re welcomed in.</p>
<p>As usual, if you are a Starwood Preferred Guest Member, make sure to provide the front desk with your SPG account. We decided to book a one night stay for $269/night.  (Eeeek!!!) I know&#8230; $269/night?  What were we thinking?  The package included a $200 Credit Voucher towards their Spa facility, which worked out great because we were both in need of a spa massage!  That left us with the room turning out to be $69 + tax and $30/day resort fee.  Not too shabby after all!! That is if you are really interested in some R&amp;R and needing a spa massage as badly as I did.</p>
<p>Here are some images of the front lobby:</p>
<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0788.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-326" title="Front lobby" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0788.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0790.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-329" title="Mister Parker's Bar" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0790.jpg?w=333&#038;h=250" alt="" width="333" height="250" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0791.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-327" title="Lounge Area" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0791.jpg?w=259&#038;h=194" alt="" width="259" height="194" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0792.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-328" title="Art Deco" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0792.jpg?w=231&#038;h=308" alt="" width="231" height="308" /></a><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0807.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-331" title="IMG_0807" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0807.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>This property was like a maze! One thing I would have appreciated, is if they had placed signs all over the property to direct guests where the pool, rooms, spa and other facilities were located.  If the front desk failed to provide you with their animated map, you may get lost.  But, for some visitors, they may not care for signs and actually enjoy venturing the property on their own.  After check-in we were pleasantly surprised by the room and toiletries offered:</p>
<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0778.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-335" title="Room 31 " src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0778.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0779.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-336" title="Patio View" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0779.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0784.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-340" title="Toiletries" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0784.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>After staying here for one night, I decided to book the room for one more night.  What I absolutely appreciated was the fact that there was an &#8220;Adult Only&#8221; pool and a &#8220;Family&#8221; pool.  The staff at the adult pool were attentive and the cocktails kept flowing.  Besides the pool, the amazing spa experience and quaint rooms, the resort has so much to offer.  The lawn area had a fire pit for spending QT underneath the stars, while they bring you chocolate and marshmallows to cook s&#8217;mores over the open fire.  If you enjoy playing tennis or croquet, they also offer the equipment for you to play a game.  Or, if you prefer to venture out of the resort, they also offer bicycles for rent.  But, if you are not as adventurous or wanting to stay away from the heat, this resort offers video rentals for you to stay cozy inside the room.  Pick your poison, but it appears to me that the paid resort fee is well worth it. This place was FANTASTIC!</p>
<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience: Art Deco and Dainty</li>
<li>Hotel Staff:  Pleasant.</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities:  If you read the above message, there is not much more for me to say.  Extremely satisfied.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel:  Spotless, no complaints.</li>
<li>Overall Experience:  Can&#8217;t wait to return.  Enjoyed all the amenities, especially the adult pool and PSYC (Spa).  Next time I&#8217;ll have to try the restaurant and rate their food. To be continued&#8230;</li>
</ul>
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			<media:title type="html">jennscreative</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/parker-entrance.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Driveway into The Parker - Palm Springs</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0809.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">The Parker - Entry to Lobby</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0788.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Front lobby</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0790.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Mister Parker&#039;s Bar</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0791.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Lounge Area</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0792.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Art Deco</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0807.jpg?w=225" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">IMG_0807</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0778.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Room 31 </media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0779.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Patio View</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0784.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Toiletries</media:title>
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		<title>Kurhaus Hotel, Den Haag &#8211; The Netherlands</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2012/01/22/kurhaus-hotel-den-haag-the-netherlands/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2012/01/22/kurhaus-hotel-den-haag-the-netherlands/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:40:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Den Haag, The Netherlands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Ending my two week European excursion, was a one night stay in a four star hotel known as the Kurhaus Hotel.  Resembling the classical elegance of hotels such as the Ritz Carlton or Plaza Hotel in NYC, this hotel not only impressed us with its style, but with a beautiful view of the ocean.  I [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=313&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ending my two week European excursion, was a one night stay in a four star hotel known as the Kurhaus Hotel.  Resembling the classical elegance of hotels such as the Ritz Carlton or Plaza Hotel in NYC, this hotel not only impressed us with its style, but with a beautiful view of the ocean.  I was pleasantly impressed by the boardwalk on the beach.  The boardwalk was such a classical &#8220;Jenn style,&#8221; plush lounge chairs, mood lighting and lounge music playing in the background.  Firewood pits, delicious cocktails and food varied from one restaurant to the next.  Perfect dinner and night entertainment for couples and honeymooners.</p>
<p>The Kurhaus Hotel is located in a city known as Den Haag or also commonly known as The Hague.  Den Haag is the third largest city in The Netherlands. This city includes two distinct beach resorts, the main one is Scheveningen and the other one is Benelux Kijkduin.  The Kurhaus Hotel is located on the  north beach resort, which is Scheveningen.  Major tourist attraction and common to the locals for weekend getaways.  The Kurhaus Hotel could not be missed, it is centrally located on the boardwalk and facing the beach. You could see from the photo below, the perimeter this hotel takes up on the boardwalk.</p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 375px"><img class="wp-image   " src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/43-kurhaus-view-from-beach.jpg?w=365&#038;h=272" alt="Image" width="365" height="272" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel - Den Haag</p></div>
<p>The rooms at the Kurhaus Hotel were obviously elegant and contemporary.  This hotel could be pricey during peak season, but affordable during off-peak seasons.  The one ah-maz-ing part about our room was the side view, in which we opened up our windows and noticed the breathe taking ocean.  Unfortunately, we were in low tide season, waves did not provide the capabilities of surfing or body boarding.  Needless to say, ocean views are calm and relaxing to the mind.  Furthermore, providing an overall perfect ending to my trip.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 388px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/superior-room.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/superior-room.jpg?w=378" alt="Image" width="378" height="241" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Superior Room</p></div>
<p>** above photo from Kurhaus Official website</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 326px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/44-room-view-of-ocean.jpg"><img class=" wp-image" title="Ocean View" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/44-room-view-of-ocean.jpg?w=316&#038;h=424" alt="Image" width="316" height="424" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Side view of the boardwalk and ocean</p></div>
<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience:  Elegant and Contemporary.</li>
<li>Hotel Staff:  Friendly.</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities: Unfortunately, I did not check out the restaurant at the hotel.  But, there are many local restaurants around the boardwalk that are worth checking out.  The seafood here is delicious.  Overall nearby attraction is the boardwalk and dueling piano bar next door.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel:  spotless.</li>
<li>Overall Experience: Be mindful when traveling outside the US.  I did not know that even though you stated a one night stay, if you do not check out of the hotel registration, they may charge you for the next night because you did not sign off on your check out slip.  This happened to me during my stay at the Kurhaus.  Luckily, I dealt with a hotel staff member who understood the &#8220;American check-out&#8221; of not having to sign off on a check out slip, at the end of your stay at a US Hotel.  They cleared everything out of the system with the manager of the hotel and did not overcharge me.  However, I did spend a great deal of my time having to sort everything out.  However, I have to admit this hotel is on the highest end, staying in Scheveningen.  Although it is centrally located to the boardwalk and beach, which makes it convenient for traveling as an out of town guest. I would stay here again!</li>
</ul>
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			<media:title type="html">jennscreative</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/43-kurhaus-view-from-beach.jpg?w=1014" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Image</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Image</media:title>
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		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/44-room-view-of-ocean.jpg?w=527" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Ocean View</media:title>
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		<title>Hotel Faubourg 216-224, Paris &#8211; France</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/09/20/hotel-faubourg-216-224-paris-france/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/09/20/hotel-faubourg-216-224-paris-france/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:40:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paris, France]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Bonjour! Oh, Paris&#8230; how I love thee!!! During my two-week trip to Europe, I visited Paris twice.  The second visit included a stay in the town of St. Denis, which is not far from the city centre of Paris.  This hotel was conveniently located near a centralized metro station, Gare du Nord. Hotel Faubourg 216-224 [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=182&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Bonjour! Oh, Paris&#8230; how I love thee!!!</p>
<p>During my two-week trip to Europe, I visited Paris twice.  The second visit included a stay in the town of St. Denis, which is not far from the city centre of Paris.  This hotel was conveniently located near a centralized metro station, Gare du Nord. Hotel Faubourg 216-224 is considered a 3.5 star hotel, narrow in space, but pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness and contemporary feel of the room.</p>
<div id="attachment_183" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/lobby.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-183" title="lobby" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/lobby.jpg?w=300&#038;h=196" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Walkway to hotel rooms.</p></div>
<p>The front lobby staff was friendly and provided courtesy calls for catching some local attractions.  The staff provided us with information on the canal cruises, Moulin Rouge showings and other cabaret shows. This hotel also provided wi-fi, but the signal was not as strong as we hoped it to be.  We were kind of disappointed that their wi-fi access kept kicking us out of being able to use the internet.  But for the most part, we were happy with the room and the comfort it provided.</p>
<div id="attachment_184" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/bedroom-2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-184" title="bedroom 2" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/bedroom-2.jpg?w=300&#038;h=183" alt="" width="300" height="183" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Double Bedroom</p></div>
<p>As most hotels in Europe, if you do not specify a double bedroom, you may end up with a room and 2 single beds.  Although the temperature outside was not that hot, the AC in the room was working great.  As you can see in the photo, the room was styled in a minimalist fashion, but overall it was very cozy.  Too bad our room did not have a view of the city, instead we were facing other rooms.  The bathroom and shower functioned well, but of course the bathroom was narrow in space. For the decent price we paid per night, this hotel was definitely better than the ones I&#8217;ve stayed in Paris before.</p>
<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience: Minimalist, but cozy. Contemporary and clean.</li>
<li>Hotel Staff:  Provided information on local attractions, although improvement in providing directions would be great.</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities:  Did not check out the local spots around the area as much as we would&#8217;ve enjoyed.  But, located very close to Metro stations with easy access to the various attractions such as the Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower and more.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel: No visible dust spots or dirt.</li>
<li>Overall Experience:  Not a bad place to stay for the price and being a 3.5 star. A cab ride to Notre Dame area would cost anywhere from 7-8 Euros, which is not too bad.  Unfortunately, the hotel does not provide parking and a nearby parking garage was not easy to find.  The wi-fi signal was not strong and think the hotel should fix it.  However, the staff was friendly and noises from the streets could not be heard.  Satisfied with the feel of the room and bathroom.  Space was small, but the minimalist furniture kept it simple and easy to move around in for 2 people.</li>
</ul>
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		<media:content url="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/lobby.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">lobby</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">bedroom 2</media:title>
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		<title>Park Hotel, Amsterdam &#8211; The Netherlands</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/09/15/park-hotel-amsterdam-the-netherlands/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/09/15/park-hotel-amsterdam-the-netherlands/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 06:20:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Amsterdam, The Netherlands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://misshotelsnob.com/?p=170</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Although my hotel stay started in Paris, I thought I&#8217;d write about Park Hotel in Amsterdam first.  I absolutely loved this hotel, which clearly was 4 stars and had paid the price for it also.  I have to admit, the price was definitely reasonable for this hotel, based on the amenities provided. I stayed [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=170&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_171" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/hotel-entry.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-171" title="Hotel Entry" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/hotel-entry.jpg?w=300&#038;h=199" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Front Lobby Entrance</p></div>
<p>Although my hotel stay started in Paris, I thought I&#8217;d write about Park Hotel in Amsterdam first.  I absolutely loved this hotel, which clearly was 4 stars and had paid the price for it also.  I have to admit, the price was definitely reasonable for this hotel, based on the amenities provided. I stayed in room 260 which had a front view of central Amsterdam, with the boats streaming across the canal.  This hotel was centrally located to nearby restaurants, shops and The Heineken Factory.  I would compare this hotel to Starwood&#8217;s W Hotel, in which I always enjoy staying in.  The staff was very attentive, hotel lobby was sleek and the room was spotless.</p>
<div id="attachment_173" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_0712.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-173" title="IMG_0712" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_0712.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Doubleroom</p></div>
<p>One thing about Europe that you always need to keep in mind is making sure to choose your room wisely.  In the US, we typically just select a room for 2 and then the website provides you with the option for double beds or king size.  In Europe, the option they give you is: single or double; but, there are times when you choose double and they still give you a room with 2 twin beds.  Luckily for the doubleroom I booked, they provided us with a queen size bed.  If you choose a single at Park Hotel, the bed they provide is not a twin, but a full.  Perhaps you don&#8217;t mind saving some costs and sharing a full size bed for 2 people, that would be an option at this hotel.</p>
<div id="attachment_174" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_0710.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-174" title="IMG_0710" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_0710.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Bathroom</p></div>
<p>The black tiles in this modern bathroom made it feel chic and sexy.  By far, this bathroom was the largest I&#8217;ve seen during my stay in Europe this time around.</p>
<div id="attachment_175" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 234px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_1904.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-175" title="IMG_1904" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/img_1904.jpg?w=224&#038;h=300" alt="" width="224" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Park Hotel</p></div>
<p>Altogether, I was impressed with this hotel and the room size for a European country. Unfortunately I stayed for one night, but made the most out of  my stay in this fabulous hotel. I would definitely book this hotel again&#8230;</p>
<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience: Modern/Contemporary and Chic.</li>
<li>Hotel Staff: Accomodating and friendly.</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities:  Lots of nearby eateries, shops and tourist attractions. Walking distance to various museums, the Heineken factory and surrounding hotels. 24 Hour room service.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel: Spotless.</li>
<li>Overall Experience:  Room was bigger than I expected, I was pleasantly surprised.  Amenities were fabulous! The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was clean.  The negative point was the fact that wifi was not free and costs 19 Euros for 24 hours.  Whereas, we were informed that wifi was free in local 2-3 star hotels around the area. Irregardless, if I were to stay in Amsterdam again, Park Hotel would be my first choice.</li>
</ul>
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			<media:title type="html">Hotel Entry</media:title>
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		<title>Le Meridien, Delhi &#8211; India</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/08/09/le-meridien-delhi-india/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/08/09/le-meridien-delhi-india/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:56:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Delhi, India]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://misshotelsnob.com/?p=158</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On December 10, 2010, I arrived to Indira Gandhi International Airport at approx. 12 o&#8217;clock in the afternoon.  I was greeted by the driver from the Le Meridien Hotel and was nice enough to offer a chilled bottle of water, as well as, the local newspaper in English during our drive to the city.  As [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=158&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On December 10, 2010, I arrived to Indira Gandhi International Airport at approx. 12 o&#8217;clock in the afternoon.  I was greeted by the driver from the Le Meridien Hotel and was nice enough to offer a chilled bottle of water, as well as, the local newspaper in English during our drive to the city.  As we left the airport,  I looked out the window and realize how similar the country was to my parent&#8217;s native country of Indonesia.  I couldn&#8217;t help but smile at a family of 4 riding a moped, the father stirring the bike, while one little boy sits in front and the other 2 sit behind him.  I remember when I was younger, I would complain to my parents about the AC not working in our station wagon and hated being in the heat.  As I see this family pass by, I couldn&#8217;t help but realize how there is so much more to appreciate about life than the material things.  I could go on about how I felt about the city, but my blog is dedicated to my hotel experience and so I must continue.</p>
<p>As we approach the hotel, I noticed I was staying very close to the Parliament house.  The driver pulls up to the Le Meridien driveway and was only allowed to enter because he held a pass that allowed him to enter.  I then opened the car door, headed to the trunk to pick up my luggage and soon realized&#8230; my luggage was being taken through a scanner.  It was apparent at that moment, I was within the vicinity of government buildings and the hotel needed to take extra safety precautions. The hotel staff were polite and I didn&#8217;t question their intent to keep their guests safe.</p>
<div id="attachment_159" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/lobby.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-159" title="Hotel Lobby" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/lobby.jpg?w=300&#038;h=141" alt="" width="300" height="141" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Hotel Lobby</p></div>
<p>My journey to India was a long one, it took me 11 hours to arrive at Heathrow Airport.  After 11 hours on the plane, I had a 4 hour layover and decided to lounge at the American Airlines Admirals Club.  After 15 hours of anticipation, my journey from Heathrow Airport to Delhi was 7 hours.  Furthermore, knowing that it would take me a whole day of traveling to get to my final destination, I decided to book this 4 star hotel.  I had done my research beforehand, looked into photos and reviews before booking this hotel.  All I could think about when I was assigned my room key was sleep.  As I opened the door to my room, I remember how contemporary the rooms looked from the photos and to my comfort, it represented the photograph I had seen.  Hardwood floors, flat screen TV and a comfortable bed.  The bathroom was just as contemporary as I pictured it and overall, the room was clean and comfortable to sleep in.</p>
<div id="attachment_160" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/room1.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-160" title="room1" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/room1.jpeg?w=300&#038;h=201" alt="" width="300" height="201" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Guest Room</p></div>
<div id="attachment_161" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/bathroom.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-161" title="bathroom" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/bathroom.jpg?w=300&#038;h=224" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Bathroom</p></div>
<p>After a night&#8217;s rest, I woke up in the morning and decided to check out the restaurant by the Hotel Lobby.  To my surprise, a breakfast buffet awaited my arrival and was inclusive with my hotel room.  On second thought, for the rate I paid on this room, the buffet should have been included. I was delighted by the fact that I was able to enjoy both a traditional American breakfast, but also Indian delights at the same time.  I took a risk in drinking the fruit juices they offered, but it was well worth it because it was rich in ingredients.  After eating breakfast, I decided to walk around the hotel and check the marketplace located on the second floor.  Unfortunately, I was not impressed by the stores the hotel had to offer.  It was apparent that the merchants were trying to attract the tourists who did not feel comfortable leaving the hotel, or those who didn&#8217;t know there were local flea markets in which you could find a better bargain.  It was a bit uncomfortable being a woman and walking around the second floor by herself, the men kept staring at me to get me to come inside their shop and buy something.  Luckily, I kept walking and ignored having to face them in the eye.  The last stop I checked out at the hotel was their salon, I decided to treat myself to a mani/pedi.  I was greeted by an Indian man and he polished my nails for me.  The salon was just as contemporary as their guest rooms.</p>
<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience: Contemporary</li>
<li>Hotel Staff: Friendly and easy to communicate with.</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities: Restaurant &#8220;The One,&#8221; great breakfast buffet and friendly staff.  Merchants/Marketplace: Unimpressive.  Better bargains at local flea markets or outside shops.  Merchants made it uncomfortable to shop and approach.  Salon was contemporary and staff were friendly.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel: Clean</li>
<li>Overall Experience:  Based on the hotel I stayed in at the end of my Indian journey, this hotel would&#8217;ve been my number one choice to stay at. The hotel I stayed at with my tour package smelled like urine, room was not clean and the restaurant was not impressive.  Furthermore, staying in India, I do rate this hotel a 4 star.</li>
</ul>
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			<media:title type="html">Hotel Lobby</media:title>
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		<title>W Hotel, San Diego &#8211; California</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/06/02/w-hotel-san-diego-california/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/06/02/w-hotel-san-diego-california/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:14:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://misshotelsnob.com/?p=132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yet another Starwood Hotel stay again! The W Hotel is notoriously known for their &#8220;chic and contemporary&#8221; ambience.  I haven&#8217;t stayed at the other W Hotels, but I have visited the one in San Francisco and what I love is the bar/lounge entrance at night.  In the evening, the hotel lobby becomes the party scene [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=132&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0811.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-133" title="IMG_0811" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0811.jpg?w=242&#038;h=154" alt="" width="242" height="154" /></a></p>
<p>Yet another Starwood Hotel stay again! The W Hotel is notoriously known for their &#8220;chic and contemporary&#8221; ambience.  I haven&#8217;t stayed at the other W Hotels, but I have visited the one in San Francisco and what I love is the bar/lounge entrance at night.  In the evening, the hotel lobby becomes the party scene and DJ&#8217;s spinning either House or Hip Hop.  This hotel is not recommended for young children or families, I would recommend this to my single ready to mingle friends and to couples only. Interestingly, the entry rug of the elevator changes during the morning, afternoon and evening.  The elevator rug greets with a &#8220;Good Morning&#8221; or &#8220;Good Afternoon&#8221; or &#8220;Good Evening,&#8221; obviously, dependent on what time of day it is. </p>
<div id="attachment_134" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0324.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-134" title="IMG_0324" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0324.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The W Bed</p></div>
<p> I was always under the impression that regardless of which Starwood Hotel you stay in, they&#8217;ll always supply you with their &#8220;Heavenly&#8221; bed selection.  I jumped into bed and realized that this bed was not the usual &#8220;heavenly&#8221; bed, only to realize that the W hotel has their own &#8220;W bed&#8221; line.  Never seems to amaze me on how much Starwood tries to capitalize on their various room amenities, featured bed linens, mattresses, shower heads, robes, etc. The bed was definitely comfortable, but I didn&#8217;t care too much for the pillows.  I enjoy a soft pillow, but it also needs to have a certain firmness.  My head sunk in and it was hard for me to fall asleep easily with the W bedding collection.</p>
<p>What I love about the room is the option to lounge by the window with their cushioned bench.  The reading materials were entertaining and nothing beats a view of other skylines within the vicinity.  Luckily for us, we had beautiful blue skies!</p>
<div id="attachment_135" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 293px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0326.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-135" title="IMG_0326" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0326.jpg?w=283&#038;h=162" alt="" width="283" height="162" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Lounge by the Window</p></div>
<div class="mceTemp"> </div>
<p>It all came back to me on the reason why I heart staying at the W Hotel&#8230; the bliss branded shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, body wash and lotion.  Lemon scented everything!  I used every bit of their amenities and even asked for more.  BLISS could be found at Sephora and their brand is not cheap! So while you stay at the W Hotel, enjoy as much of it as you can because it&#8217;s all included with your room deal.</p>
<div id="attachment_138" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 298px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0337.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-138" title="IMG_0337" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_0337.jpg?w=288&#038;h=185" alt="" width="288" height="185" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">&quot;Ignorance is BLISS&quot;...</p></div>
<p>Pros: The W Hotel is nicely situated in the more quiet side of town.  Finding parking near the hotel is easy and open meters around the blocks surrounding the hotel.  It&#8217;s also a plus to have a bar/lounge setting in your hotel, if you don&#8217;t feel like leaving and want to just chill with a drink or two.</p>
<p>Cons:  This hotel is a few blocks away from Gaslamp Quarters, which means a $5 cab ride is much-needed for all the nightlife and excitement.  The pool is very shallow and not very big.  More than likely you are only able to fit a total of 40-50 people around/inside the pool area.  Not sure why they designed the pool/beach bar the way they did because don&#8217;t get it twisted, the two are not located in the same area.  The gym is next to the pool, which to me, should&#8217;ve been the bar area instead.  Perhaps they could do some remodeling in the near future or rethink the design of their layout. Parking at this hotel is $26/night.  Surrounding lots will charge anywhere from $10-17/day. Parking is free from 6PM Saturday &#8211; Sunday.</p>
<div id="attachment_139" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 276px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_03351.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-139 " title="IMG_0335" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_03351.jpg?w=266&#038;h=162" alt="" width="266" height="162" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Room 1020</p></div>
<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience: Chic and Contemporary</li>
<li>Hotel Staff: Friendly and had no issues with late check-out.</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities: Enjoyed the spacious room, contemporary furniture, iPod speakers and bliss branded bathroom supplies.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel:  Clean.</li>
<li>Overall Experience:  I highly recommend this hotel for the young/single/couples crowd.  If you are coming with children, this hotel would not be ideal.  Wish they had visioned the pool and beach bar access to be joined together vs. being separate, the whole floor plan didn&#8217;t make sense to me. Hotel earned brownie points for having an ACURA complimentary car service from/to the hotel, however, car service is only available during a specified time.  Nice to be able to get picked up/dropped off without a meter running.  Shops/restaurants in Gaslamp Quarters is not too far from the hotel.  I highly recommend trying Nobu at Hard Rock Hotel, their food was absolutely impeccable!</li>
</ul>
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		<title>Doubletree Fess Parker Resort, Santa Barbara &#8211; California</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/05/23/doubletree-fess-parker-resort-santa-barbara-california/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/05/23/doubletree-fess-parker-resort-santa-barbara-california/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 05:34:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Santa Barbara]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://misshotelsnob.com/?p=79</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Doubletree Fess Parker Resort was AMAZING!  Thankfully through my corporate rates, I was able to book this hotel at a cheaper price.  According to the sign in the hotel room, the room I stayed in averaged $500-700/night.  The location and amenities of this hotel speaks the truth about resort living.  However, I&#8217;m not sure I would&#8217;ve paid [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=79&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_80" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0225.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-80" title="Hotel Parking Entry" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0225.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Hotel Parking Entry</p></div>
<p>Doubletree Fess Parker Resort was AMAZING!  Thankfully through my corporate rates, I was able to book this hotel at a cheaper price.  According to the sign in the hotel room, the room I stayed in averaged $500-700/night.  The location and amenities of this hotel speaks the truth about resort living.  However, I&#8217;m not sure I would&#8217;ve paid that price to stay in a deluxe room, it would be different if that was the price of a suite. </p>
<p>I was greeted by the front desk receptionist and after checking in for my room, she hands over fresh-baked cookies for being a hotel guest.  After a long drive, that chocolate chip cookie earned this hotel some brownie points in my books.  This resort is huge, their rooms are segmented in different buildings.  The building in which my room was located was the Camelia building.  Another aspect of Santa Barbara that I absolutely love is the Spanish architecture and its influences. </p>
<div id="attachment_90" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0172.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-90" title="Camelia Building" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0172.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Camelia</p></div>
<p>There was nothing very special about our room, but I must admit it was very spacious. If you&#8217;re planning a girl&#8217;s weekend, this room is ideal because there is a vanity area that is separate from the vanity inside the actual bathroom. There is plenty of space to style your hair or put on your makeup. The nice thing about the room, was the outside patio. Although the view was directly the back parking lot, if you looked up, you could see the pretty blue skies and mountain landscapes. Not too shabby!!! Ideally, you might want to ask for the second floor in which the balcony would give you the same view, but at a higher level. Below are some photos of the inside and outside of the room:</p>
<div id="attachment_89" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0171.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-89  " title="vanity outside bathroom" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0171.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Double Vanities!</p></div>
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<div id="attachment_86" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0168.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-86" title="IMG_0168" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0168.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sweet Dream - bedding</p></div>
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<div id="attachment_82" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0164.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-82 " title="IMG_0164" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0164.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Queen Beds - Guestroom</p></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;">Wedding ceremonies/receptions are common at this hotel. Upon arrival on Saturday afternoon, a wedding was occurring.  Upon leaving on Sunday afternoon, another wedding was being setup.  Below are some photos of the gorgeous locations this hotel has to offer for such a big event:</div>
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<div id="attachment_93" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0206.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-93" title="IMG_0206" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0206.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Second Level of their Courtyard</p></div>
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<div id="attachment_99" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0180.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-99 " title="IMG_0180" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0180.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Beautiful Ocean View Courtyard!</p></div>
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<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter" style="text-align:left;">Lastly, the location of this hotel was ideal for local eateries.  The one we encountered down the street was Sambo&#8217;s! Highly recommended onYelp and Zagat rated, we decided to go here for brunch on Sunday.  It was a little bit windy outside so we decided to eat inside, but if you go there on a nice sunny day, sitting outside would be ideal. I ordered a typical morning breakfast, but next time I suggest ordering their Crab Cakes Benedict.  Absolutely deelish!!!  To top things off with this fabulous restaurant, their chocolate chip muffins provided after being seated. Prices wer very reasonable! $</div>
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<div id="attachment_102" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0228.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-102 " title="IMG_0228" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_0228.jpg?w=225&#038;h=300" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Crab Cakes Benedict!</p></div>
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<ul>
<li>Hotel Ambience: Spanish/Vintage/Classic</li>
<li>Hotel Staff: Friendly, service with a smile!</li>
<li>Hotel Amenities: Spacious room/double vanities a plus and outdoor patio was excellent.</li>
<li>Cleanliness of Hotel:  Clean.</li>
<li>Overall Experience:  A nice place for a weekend getaway.  Very serene and quiet, maid service didn&#8217;t wake you in the AM, shower was good and bed was comfortable for sleeping.  Distance to local eateries:  1/4-1/2 mile for restaurants facing the beach.  Downtown shopping was a mile up State Street.  Lots of tour buses and beach events to keep your afternoon occupied.</li>
</ul>
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			<media:title type="html">Hotel Parking Entry</media:title>
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		<title>Ten Manchester Street Hotel, Marylebone, London &#8211; England</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/05/08/ten-manchester-street-hotel-marylebone-london-england/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/05/08/ten-manchester-street-hotel-marylebone-london-england/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2011 17:23:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London, England]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://misshotelsnob.com/?p=70</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Something about Boutique Hotels I truly appreciate.  The big chain hotels are always nice, but this hotel speaks to intimacy.  This hotel maintains 45 elegantly appointed bedrooms and I had the opportunity to stay in one of them.  The hotel staff were very courteous and always willing to help.  I stayed here after a week [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=70&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_71" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_2481.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71" title="Hotel Front" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_2481.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Ten Manchester Street Hotel Brownstone</p></div>
<p> Something about Boutique Hotels I truly appreciate.  The big chain hotels are always nice, but this hotel speaks to intimacy.  This hotel maintains 45 elegantly appointed bedrooms and I had the opportunity to stay in one of them.  The hotel staff were very courteous and always willing to help.  I stayed here after a week trip to India and decided to stopover in London for a few days.  This hotel was nicely situated in a posh area known as Marlyebone.  Oxford Street shopping was literally 2-3 blocks down the road.  What I truly appreciate were the short blocks to dining/shopping, unfortunately my flight got canceled after thinking I would be in London for only 2-3 days.  I had to then extend my stay for another 2 days, but I had no trouble finding things to do and meandering around the wonderful city. </p>
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<div class="mceTemp">During the month of December, temperatures were in the 10&#8242;s/20&#8242;s, weather conditions in which an LA native is definitely not used to.  However, this hotel had heated bathroom floors and heated towel posts.  It was nice to take a hot shower and still feel warm, with a heated towel.  The room was very chic/shabby.  Bed was unbelievably comfortable and might I add, equivalent to our Starwood Hotels &#8211; &#8220;heavenly bed.&#8221;   The amenities offered in the bathroom were sufficient for me to not have to go out and buy more from the local drug store. </div>
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<div class="mceTemp">Since my flight was canceled and I had to extend my stay here, I had a lot of room time.  I felt safe and the walls/windows were thick enough to not hear any noise from other rooms or outside.  The room was very cozy and might I add very clean.  I couldn&#8217;t find a spot of dust anywhere.  I would definitely rate this hotel 10/10 stars.</div>
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<div class="mceTemp">If I were to travel back to London, I would definitely like to stay here again.  This hotel was definitely a Jenn style!</div>
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<div class="mceTemp" style="text-align:left;">Hotel Amenities:  Impeccable (check it out for yourself)</div>
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<div class="mceTemp" style="text-align:left;">Overall Experience:  A must stay.  No complaints and thoroughly enjoyed my time in the town and its surroundings. Nicely situated w/ plenty of shops and eateries. Easy to access the tube to check out the London Big Eye/Picadilly Circus, etc.</div>
</li>
</ul>
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		<title>Westin St. Francis, San Francisco &#8211; California</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/05/07/westin-st-francis-san-francisco-california/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/05/07/westin-st-francis-san-francisco-california/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 May 2011 07:24:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Francisco]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[   Visited San Francisco a few weekends ago and enjoyed the clear blue skies while it lasted, since it doesn&#8217;t happen often in this city.  I always enjoy my trips to San Francisco, especially shopping in Union Square.  I never go home empty-handed and never go home with a dissatisfied meal from one of their amazing restaurants. I truly [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=46&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
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<div id="attachment_47" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/san_francisco-westin_st__francis.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-47" title="San_Francisco-Westin_St__Francis" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/san_francisco-westin_st__francis.jpg?w=300&#038;h=199" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Front Entrance</p></div>
<p> Visited San Francisco a few weekends ago and enjoyed the clear blue skies while it lasted, since it doesn&#8217;t happen often in this city.  I always enjoy my trips to San Francisco, especially shopping in Union Square.  I never go home empty-handed and never go home with a dissatisfied meal from one of their amazing restaurants. I truly love this city, but I just wasn&#8217;t cut out to stay and live there.  I do miss living in the Bay Area, but truly appreciate my visitation rights much more. </p>
<p>This weekend I actually visited the &#8220;Rock,&#8221; also known as, Alcatraz Island.  I truly appreciated the history and stories shared by past wardens and convicts.  It surely was amazing weather because there were no clouds covering up the city view from the Island and both bridges were in sight.  Learning about the families that lived on the island left me wondering how parent&#8217;s felt about their family living on the island and not feeling endangered.  It amazed me, to realize how trustworthy we were in the past and realizing how that would never happen in this lifetime.  As far as I know&#8230;.</p>
<p>Let me share about my stay at the Westin St. Francis!</p>
<p>First impression when I hear about &#8220;Westin Hotels,&#8221; it&#8217;s a Starwood Hotel and that means &#8220;heavenly&#8221; amenities.  What exactly are &#8220;heavenly&#8221; amenities?  It includes, the Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Shower.  The Heavenly Bed never fails to allow me to sleep in and sink my body into the fluffy linens.  The Heavenly Shower never fails to make me want to stay in the shower longer, sing a tune or two and scrub my body up &amp; down.  In a nutshell, this would come to my mind when staying at a Starwood Hotel.</p>
<p>Although the Westin St. Francis is indeed a Starwood Hotel, I did not care much for the room or the ambience all that much.  If you enjoy vintage, marble flooring and marble columns, you would enjoy the Westin St. Francis.  Walking into the hotel, you could immediately pick up on the fact that this was a historical landmark or building of some sort.  The dark hallways and walkway to the elevators up to your room, will give you an eerie and dark feeling.  Once you arrive on your floor, the carpeting and old style wallpaper continues to give you an eerie impression.  In fact, it does not help that when you walk towards your room, a discreet smell of oldness or moldy air flow breathes into the hallways.  This was not a good sign for being a 4 star hotel. </p>
<div id="attachment_48" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 210px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/guest_room_d_1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-48" title="Guest_room_D_1" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/guest_room_d_1.jpg?w=490" alt=""   /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Guest Room</p></div>
<p>Hoping that as I open the door to my room, I would be impressed with updated furniture or chic carpeting; to my dismay, I was quite disappointed.  I did not care for the chandelier, which seemed to fit with the eerie theme of this hotel.  The Heavenly Bed was there, but the plain white walls with very minimalist artwork, was truly a disappointment.  The bathroom had striped wallpaper and marble flooring, which I did not care for.  All in all, the hotel was missing the spark and 21st century appeal.  I truly did not care for my stay here.  If it wasn&#8217;t for the Heavenly Bed &amp; Shower, I would give this hotel 2 stars.  But since this is classified with Starwood, I suppose 3 stars would fit and 4 would just be pushing it. </p>
<p>Delightfully, I was impressed with the presence of Michael Mina&#8217;s restaurant: Bourbon Steak.  Absolutely deeeelish!  Our meal started off with french fries that were cooked in duck fat, accompanied by 3 different sauces.  At first, duck fat strayed me away from trying the french fries, but I am willing to try anything once in my life.  Duck fat fries, it was!  I&#8217;m glad I tried it because I was utterly impressed and delighted by the taste.  I moved onto my bone-in rib eye steak, cooked at Medium Rare, accompanied by truffled Mac n&#8217; Cheese.  Loved, loved, loved it&#8230;.. Cooked to its perfection, I enjoyed every bite.  Even though I split the meal into two, I was completely satisfied and full.  The dessert menu arrived and I had no choice but to look the other way.  Our server was truly amazing and kind, he complimented us with chocolate truffles.  I had no choice but to pop one of them in and completely enjoyed every piece of it. Bourbon Steak restaurant was truly an amazing experience and highly recommend it to those who enjoy a good piece of meat. </p>
<div id="attachment_49" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/016.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-49" title="016" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/016.jpg?w=300&#038;h=224" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">French Fries (Fried in Duck Fat)</p></div>
<p> </p>
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<div id="attachment_50" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/022.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-50" title="022" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/022.jpg?w=300&#038;h=224" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Complimentary Chocolate Truffles</p></div>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Hotel Ambience: Historical/Classic-Vintage</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Hotel Staff: Friendly</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Hotel Amenities: Heavenly Bed &amp; Shower = excellent.  Furniture/Artwork = needs to be updated.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Cleanliness of Hotel: Mediocre</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Overall Experience:  I prefer the Le Meridien and plan to continue staying there when visiting SF.  This hotel gave me an eerie feeling and hope the maintenance improves. Location is ideal because it is situated in the heart of  Union Square. </div>
</li>
</ul>
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		<title>Ritz Carlton, Phoenix &#8211; Arizona</title>
		<link>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/04/10/ritz-carlton-phoenix-arizona/</link>
		<comments>http://misshotelsnob.com/2011/04/10/ritz-carlton-phoenix-arizona/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:31:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jenn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arizona]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phoenix]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[My first experience staying at a Ritz Carlton was during a business trip in Phoenix, Arizona. I&#8217;m  not sure if it was the best choice to scope out The Ritz Carlton, known for being a five-star hotel and lavish amenities, in the city of Phoenix.  I have to admit, I didn&#8217;t care for it much.  [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=misshotelsnob.com&#038;blog=21960359&#038;post=21&#038;subd=misshotelsnob&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/ritz-carlton-1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-22" title="Ritz Carlton Exterior" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/ritz-carlton-1.jpg?w=490" alt=""   /></a></p>
<p>My first experience staying at a Ritz Carlton was during a business trip in Phoenix, Arizona. I&#8217;m  not sure if it was the best choice to scope out The Ritz Carlton, known for being a five-star hotel and lavish amenities, in the city of Phoenix.  I have to admit, I didn&#8217;t care for it much.  Not looking at photos beforehand, I had a HIGH expectation of Ritz Carlton and when I arrived to this hotel, it was located next to business buildings.  As I walked in, I noticed marble stone tiles, gold trimmed doors and employees greeting you everywhere. </p>
<p>I arrived early in the morning, picked up my key from the front desk and entered the room.  I didn&#8217;t care much for the decor, the fancy in this hotel is an older style of fancy and to a younger crowd, it didn&#8217;t have much of an appeal. The bed was definitely comfortable and speaking from a &#8220;Heavenly Bed&#8221; whore, this bed was just as good.  I wasn&#8217;t much of a fan of their dark wood furniture and the marble decorated bathroom.  However, I was delighted to see the complimentary reading materials and kept the BAZAAR magazine for my plane ride home. </p>
<p>Restaurants: Since I arrived early in the morning, I decided to eat breakfast at Bistro 24.  I didn&#8217;t care much for their breakfast and the prices were of course the obvious, $$$.  I&#8217;m not sure if the Lunch and Dinner options are better, but my dining experience was definitely not a WOW factor in my eyes.<a href="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/ritz-carlton-2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-24 aligncenter" title="Ritz Carlton poolside" src="http://misshotelsnob.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/ritz-carlton-2.jpg?w=184&#038;h=164" alt="" width="184" height="164" /></a></p>
<p>Poolside:  The pool area was nicely kept. However, I&#8217;m not sure how to feel with office buildings surrounding the hotel and ability to catch a glimpse of anyone in their bathing suit.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Hotel Ambience: Classic.</div>
</li>
<li style="text-align:left;">
<div style="text-align:left;">Hotel Staff: Friendly.</div>
</li>
<li style="text-align:left;">
<div style="text-align:left;">Hotel Amenities: Average.</div>
</li>
<li style="text-align:left;">
<div style="text-align:left;">Cleanliness of Hotel: Average.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align:left;">Overall Experience:  Tailored to upper class and older crowds.  Perhaps one day I&#8217;ll stay at another Ritz location and compare my first experience to a better experience in the near future.</div>
</li>
</ul>
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