We recently spent a long weekend at Embassy Suites by Hilton St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort and loved our stay. The oceanfront hotel opened in December 2018 and looks like a brand-new property. It’s modern yet comfortable and the staff is attentive and friendly. There is great signage with social distancing and mask requirements and the hotel ensures Hilton’s CleanStay cleanliness protocols are adhered to.
The resort offers gorgeous views of St. Augustine Beach and spectacular sunrises (see photo below) and is mere steps away from the sand. Old Town St Augustine and popular attractions like Castillo de San Marcos are easily accessed, 10 minutes away.
Sunrise on the Hotel Beach
Embassy Suites St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort would be appropriate for couples’ getaways, family vacations and even meetings and events as it provides over 25,000 square feet of meetings space.
Hotel exterior from the pool area
Accommodations
The resort features 175 guest studios and suites. There are even suites with bunkbeds for the ideal family accommodations. We stayed in a 2-room suite with partial ocean views. Our suite had a balcony with chairs that were perfect for reading my book and relaxing.
The hotel is working on an expansion with the addition of a new building which will house 44 new rooms on the north side of the property. While there was construction while we were there, it was contained and didn’t bother us and wasn’t loud. The project is expected to be completed by June 2021.
Amenities
As is true of Embassy Suites properties, this resort offers free breakfast and complimentary evening socials. The hotel offers valet parking with in and out privileges for $28 a day.
Seating at Castaway Cantina
The property features a great ocean-facing outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center and a business center.
The expansive lobby is light and airy and provides comfortable couches and seating. There are even firepits with seating in a space between the lobby and the pool area where we sat in the evening and relaxed.
Hotel lobby
Food and Beverage
The hotel showcases several food and beverage options.
Harvest & Reel – this modern and inviting restaurant specializes in farm-to-table dining and in fresh seafood. It’s an open kitchen concept and popular with guests of the hotel and with locals. The space is used for the complimentary breakfast in the mornings.
Rhum Bar – this is the lobby bar and, as the name implies, it features a variety of rum-based drinks and other tasty libations. It has indoor and outdoor seating.
Firepits near Rhum Bar
Castaway Cantina – this is a combination of pool bar and an outdoor Latin-inspired dining venue. We enjoyed the setting with a long bar area and with table seating when we had lunch a couple days. There is also poolside service and we tried several frozen cocktails and some local beers.
Drinks at Castaway Cantina
Provisions of Ponce – the convenience market is open 24/7 and provides an array of sundries, food items and beer and wine.
Starbucks Coffee Bar – the hotel offers a full-service Starbucks adjacent to the lobby with all the favorites.
Location
Embassy Suites St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort is located at 300 A1A Beach Boulevard, St Augustine, Florida 32080, USA. Less than 10 miles from St Augustine Airport, 57 miles from Jacksonville International Airport and 45 miles from Daytona Beach Regional Airport.
Happy travels,
Veronique
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject and these accommodations weren’t complimentary.
The Duniway, located in the center of one of the nation’s most creative cities, gets its name and flair from the audacious essence of American pioneer Abigail Scott Duniway. The popular boutique hotel personified all that is Portland – art, authenticity, creativity and independent spirit.
Ideally situated in downtown Portland’s business and entertainment district, The Duniway is within a few steps of the MAX light rail makes it simple to discover the city.
Suite. Photo by The Duniway.
I had an opportunity to stay at this Portland boutique hotel and truly enjoyed the spacious king room I was offered with a 65-inch HDTV with StayCast technology, a seating area with a sofa and a Vittoria Coffee espresso machine. The bath products are by C.O. Bigelow and the linens are of the highest quality, bedding is 500 thread-count on Waldorf Astoria beds and robes are extra plush.
About Onsite Amenities
King Room. Photo by The Duniway.
The Duniway’s complete transformation includes the newly renovated heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center equipped with top equipment and the already-popular rooftop patio, Abigail’s Hideaway. Abigail’s Hideaway features events including live music, wine tastings and various games. There’s even complimentary yoga classes every Saturday morning outside on the Hideaway.
Note that the hotel is pet-friendly with food/water bowls, beds and other pet amenities ($50 deposit).
Self-parking is $33.00/night with in/out privileges and valet is $50.00/night with in/out privileges.
Guests who stay at The Duniway can enjoy all the benefits of Hilton Honors.
About the Food and Beverages
Jackrabbit. Photo by The Duniway.
Guests should be ready to be wowed with the food and beverage program at The Duniway. The hotel’s lobby restaurant, Jackrabbit Restaurant, is by celebrity chef Chris Cosentino and specializes in sharable foods and divine house-cured meats. There are also well-made craft cocktails available in the restaurant and at the adjacent bar.
The hotel also offers 24-hour room service also by Chef Chris Cosentino for those who prefer to dine in the comforts of their spacious rooms or suites.
The Duniway is redefining luxury in the heart of Portland.
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
I recently spent a leisurely weekend at The Diplomat Beach Resort (www.diplomatresort.com) and had an outstanding stay. I’ve always loved staying at the property located in Hollywood Beach, Florida (between Ft Lauderdale and Miami) because of its prime beach location, great food outlets, world-class spa and great rooms with amazing views. The hotel recently underwent a $100 million remodel and the results are spectacular – new, grandiose lobby, modern, chic rooms and award-winning food outlets.
The Venue
This is a large property with a 200,000 square foot conference and events center attached. The Diplomat completely overhauled its food and beverages program and offers 10 food outlets ranging from the award-winning Monkitail to casual Bristol’s Burgers (see my recap on that here).
Lobby Level Pool. Photo by The Diplomat.
There is a 14,000 square foot spa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a variety of indulgent services.
There are two beachfront pools at the Diplomat and the property offers The Ocean Ambassador’s Kids’ Club with Kids’ DIP + SLIDE. One pool is located at lobby level depicted in the image I’ve included here. The pool I typically sit at is on the lower level and adjacent to the pool bar (coincidence?). I love sitting at a pool and looking out at the beach and ocean. This pool is ideal for this.
For more active, adventurous guests, the hotel offers Jet Ski, ocean kayak, paddle board rentals and volleyball. There’s a private marina with water taxis and city trolleys for local exploration.
The Rooms
Presidential Suite. Photo by The Diplomat.
The resort has 1,000 guestrooms including 96 suites. The style of the accommodations is bright and coastal contemporary. Each room and suite offers views of the Atlantic Coast and/or the Intracoastal Waterway (see a video of the gorgeous accommodations).
We stayed in the north tower in connecting rooms: a king room and a double bedded room decorated in shades of creams and blues. Some of the features of the rooms are floor-to-ceiling windows, vintage-inspired art, plush bedding, luxe robes and Bigelow bath amenities. The hotel offers several types of rooms with ocean front, partial ocean front, Intracoastal and partial Intracoastal views. Rooms are approximately 400 square feet and suites range up to 2,500 square feet.
King Room. Photo by The Diplomat.
The Diplomat Beach Resort is part of Curio by Hilton so guests can earn Hilton Honors points for their stays.
With easy access to Ft Lauderdale and Miami Beach, The Diplomat and its prime beachfront location and great beach and Intracoastal views is a fantastic accommodations option for both leisure and business travelers.
Happy travels,
Veronique
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
I’ve traveled to Las Vegas for work more times than I could ever count. Before this year, I’d never thought about taking kids to Sin City, but with family coming to visit from Europe and yearning to visit the west coast, Vegas ended up on the itinerary.
In researching family-friendly hotels in Las Vegas, I found that there were many great options – surprise! There are multi-room accommodations, kid-friendly shows, amazing pool complexes and various activities perfect for the little ones.
We were looking for hotels on the Strip, and found everything from lazy river pools to shark aquariums to giant circus-tents to knights jousting.
Regarding price, there are options ranging from budget-friendly to break-the-bank luxurious, so travelers with any size wallets will find the right property for their families.
Circus Circus
Photo courtesy of Circus Circus
Photo courtesy of Excalibur
Circus Circus is an iconic Las Vegas hotel has been one of the most family-friendly properties for decades. There is a wide variety of accommodations available from the most basic room to luxury suites to even an RV park. What really attracts families at Circus Circus are the attractions. Adventuredome, a five-acre indoor theme park, offers everything from rides to clown shows to arcade games and will keep kids busy for hours. There is a midway with over 200 games and the popular daily free circus with its daring acts.
Elara, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club Hotel
Photo courtesy of Elara
Elara, a sleek 52-story glass tower offers spacious studios, plus 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom suites and is a member of the Hilton family. The non-gaming hotel is set back a bit from the Strip and offers adjoining access to the Miracle Mile, which has 21 restaurants and bars and 100 retail shops, and is adjacent to the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino complex featuring a renowned casino, nine restaurants and the Mandara Spa. For families, perhaps the best part of staying at Elara is access to kitchenettes in studios and full kitchens and separate living and sleeping spaces in larger units. That means cost savings through breakfast and snacks in the units and adult beverages in the fridge for the parents.
Excalibur Hotel & Casino
It’s hard to miss Excalibur with its center-Strip giant King Arthur themed castle. Accommodations range from standard rooms to 2-bedroom suites, perfect for families. Fun Dungeon, the Excalibur arcade, is a favorite with the kids. The resort has four pools with 30,000 square feet of deck space making it easy to find seating for the whole family. There are also a water slide and 19 well-stocked cabanas with all the essentials to keep cool. The ultimate family dinner adventure awaits at the medieval Tournament of Kings dinner show where guests sit in an arena style theater and watch and cheer on the knights as they battle with sword fights and jousting.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Mandalay Bay is a fantastic property for families on so many levels. First, there’s Mandalay Bay Beach, the hotel’s pool area that features a quarter mile lazy river, a gigantic wave pool and a beach area with real sand. Another must-visit attraction is the 1.6 million gallon Shark Reef Aquarium with 15 species of sharks, Piranhas, stingrays eels and many other fish numbering over 2,000 animals. Room types vary from a standard room to multi-bedroom suites and there are dozens of restaurants to choose from for families.
Photo courtesy of Mandalay Bay
Photo courtesy of Mirage Last Vegas
Mirage Las Vegas
The Mirageis perhaps best known for its volcano with waterfalls and palm trees. Kids are fascinated by the volcano show that erupts nightly starting at 8 p.m. complete with a sound effects, 150 fireshooters and a giant eruption finale shooting 60 feet into the air. Children will also enjoy the 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and the tropical rainforest atrium that has waterfalls, a lagoon and lush foliage. Another must-attend exhibit at The Mirage is the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat where guests can explore, learn and play in an enchanting world of bottlenose dolphins, white tigers, white lions and leopards. Accommodations are very wide ranging from standard rooms to three-bedroom villas with their own yards and pools.
Happy travels!
Veronique
Veronique Deblois is a travel industry veteran who’s currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
A family vacation does not mean discerning parents need to do away with luxury accommodations. World-class resorts have smartly developed kids programs to keep the little ones entertained while providing their parents with much needed R&R of their own.
Here are ten luxury hotels with amazing kids programs where guests will easily create family vacations to remember.
The Cloister at Sea Island – Sea Island, GA
Sea Island’s Camp Cloister is fun-filled with activities for the kids, like baking classes, archery lessons, themed dinner night, baby sea turtle viewing, fishing, nature walking, swimming, scavenger hunts and storytelling.
There are also endless activities for teens like sailing, paddle boarding, swimming in the ocean or the pool, beach volleyball and more. Teens 15 through 18 years old will also enjoy Waterfront Lounge, Sea Island’s haven made just for teens where they can watch the game, play pool or shuffleboard and meet other teens from different destinations.
Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow Resort – West Dover, VT
Grand Summit Hotel is owned by the Mount Snow ski resort making all ski school programs very conveniently located. A full day of ski school is offered to kids ages three (Cub Camp), found through six (Snow Camp) and seven through 14 (Mountain Camp for skiing, Mountain Riders for snowboarders). Non-skiers can enjoy snowshoeing and tubing.
In warmer months, there is Adams Farm, a working seven-generation farm with seasonal activities and agricultural experiences. Kids can enjoy feeding the farm animals, wagon rides, sleigh rides, paintball, and with many other seasonal special events. There is also bowling, fishing, boating, miniature golf and more.
Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort – Wailea, HI
The Grand Wailea kid and teen program, Camp Grande is a supervised children’s program for kids ages five to 12 years old. The program is held at The Rock, a 20,000 square foot facility that also houses Ohana Hale – the gaming lounge with countless video games and The Spot – a lounge for teens 13 through 17. At The Rock, kids can find activities like fresh orchid lei making, hula lessons, video games, the Lego wall and much more. There are also a whale-shaped outdoor wading pool, a play kitchen and tool set, a private movie theater, snack bar, craft room and a full-sized soda fountain. The game room offers foosball, ping-pong, pool and an arcade.
Photo by Hawks Cay Resort
Hawks Cay Resort – Duck Key, FL
Hawks Cay Resort offers kids’ activities for young ones five to 17 years old. Camp Hawk at Hawks Cay Resort is for children five through 12 years old offers activities like nature hikes, scavenger hunts, swimming in the resort’s two pools, snorkeling and kayaking in the resort’s saltwater lagoon, and feeding tarpon from the marina’s dock.
Teens (ages 12 through 17) can play basketball, volleyball and kickball. They can also hit the ocean and kiteboard, kayak, snorkel and fish. For teens looking to just unwind, the five pools are perfect for laying out and video games in the play area are where they can make new friends.
Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado, CA
At the DelVentures activity center atHotel Del Coronado, children four through 12 years old can enjoy beach-themed activities and play rooms, underwater murals, funhouse mirror and more. Exciting 1-hour activities and 3-hour evening adventures are popular with this age group, The free adventure pack provided at check-in includes a treasure map and compass to use to explore the property and uncover the hidden clues, leading kids to a “treasure” at the end.
The resort also has a space dedicated to teens ages 13 to 17 – VIBZ, a hip lounge with computers, karaoke and foosball tables. Teens over 14 years old can also visit the spa for special massages and facials.
Summertime activities for the whole family include dive-in movie nights, surf camps and family s’mores night.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa – Santa Ana Pueblo, NM
Hyatt Regency Tamaya takes great care to develop its children’s program with local culture and flavor. The 500-acre property is located on part of a Native American Pueblo and provides kids three to 12 years old the opportunity to experience the art and history of this culture within prearranged activities at Camp Hyatt. Camp Hyatt works with National Geographic Kids to construct eco-friendly and locally inspired activities.
The Stables at Tamaya, where over half of the horses at are rescue animals from the Tamaya Horse Rehabilitation Program, is another popular place with kids. The stables offer free pony rides to kids three through eight years old and lead-arounds for children ages four through eight.
Photo by Langham Huntington
Langham Huntington – Pasadena, CA
Modestly priced at $30, The Langham Huntington Kids Program offers kids 12 years old and under a teddy bear backpack filled with goodies like a special kids’ craft from Little Junebugs, Langham newsletter which includes family-friendly dining and activities in the area, free kids’ dinner in The Terrace restaurant (must dine with an adult who orders an entrée from dinner menu and a complimentary Langham chocolate bar from the Flavours of Langham Luxury Gift Boutique.
There is also the Imagine Tea, designed for kids and featuring junior performers from the famed Magic Castle who do close-up magic while the kids dine on a specialty tea menu of sandwiches and fun desserts, accompanied by pink lemonade, milk and a selection of fruit-infused, caffeine-free teas.
Photo by Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk Mountain House – New Paltz, NY
The Mohonk Mountain House, a National Historic Landmark resort, is nestled in the private woods of the Hudson River Valley. The resort’s castle-like appearance is sure to fascinate kids and parents alike and the kids’ program is built in a way that puts children in touch with nature and area wildlife through a variety of outdoor activities. Mohonk accepts children two years and older and the full-day program is available from mid-June through Labor Day for kids two to 12 years old. Activities range from nature hikes, to pony rides, to swimming and boat rides.
There are also activities for kids from seven to 12 years old that include learning rock scrambling, tennis and golf clinics and sporting events and tournaments. The Teen Lounge accommodates teens from 13 to 17 years old and entails listening to music, watching movies, playing video games and simply hanging out. In the winter, children can take ice-skating lessons, go snow tubing or snow shoeing.
Photo by Resort at Paws Up
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, MT
At The Resort at Paws Up, families will get reacquainted, reconnected and revitalized. The resort offers activities ranging from horseback riding, fly-fishing, river rafting, paintball wars and chuck wagon riding. Families can stay on luxurious homes with wrap-around porches or plush family tents outfitted with separate sleeping quarters for the children and full bathrooms with heated floors. The property has a newly added perk of complimentary kids club – Kids Corps of Discovery, an immersion program that “replaces screen time with serene time” for children. Age-appropriate itineraries are available for toddlers, teens and tweens.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples – Naples, FL
Ritz Kids at The Ritz Carlton Naples is a nature center with 11 aquariums and touch tanks (home to eels, baby alligators, sharks, and jellyfish), a laboratory and a computer room. The program, available to children from five to 12 years old, is a place where kids can learn about and discover nature in a colorful, living eco-sanctuary.
The full and half day program provides hands-on discovery activities in the Nature’s Wonders facility that use a science-based curriculum and kid-sized lab featuring microscopes and visual stimuli like preserved reptile skeletons—all the tools to help a budding marine biologist explore a new world.
Happy travels!
Veronique
Veronique Deblois is a travel industry veteran who’s currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
The stylish, contemporary property is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Denver, and as the name suggests, near the Denver Convention Center. The all-suites hotel is a stroll away from the Denver Center for Performing Arts, the 16th Street Mall and the Denver Art Museum. I walked to several downtown Denver restaurants during my stay.
As is true of Homewood Suites, a hot full breakfast is served free of charge each morning. There are also complimentary evening socials from Monday through Thursday evenings. The hotel has full kitchen in its suites and smartly offers a complimentary grocery shopping service – brilliant! For on-the-go-items, there’s a 24-hour on-site convenience store. There is also complimentary internet access. Guests can re-energize in the fitness center, I did and it’s a great spot, or refresh with a dip in the indoor pool or hot tub.
The Suite
I stayed in a spacious one-bedroom king urban studio with panoramic mountain view suite and it was fabulous. My bedroom had gorgeous views of the snow-capped mountains and large windows were prominent throughout the suite. One of the bedroom features I loved during my stay – a ceiling fan over the bed! The bed linens and pillows were of premium quality, an important element to a comfortable stay. There’s a large flat screen TV in the bedroom.
Dining Area
Living Room / Office
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
I had a fully-equipped kitchen with a twin burner stove, microwave, full-sized refrigerator, coffee maker and a dishwasher. While I didn’t have an opportunity to cook in my suite, I appreciated being able to store beverages and snacks in the refrigerator. This is a great feature for families traveling with kids as well as business travelers not wanting to dine out each night.
The work area with comfortable desk chair is adjacent to the living room featuring a sofa bed. I found myself stretching out on the sofa and watching TV on the flat screen a few evenings during my stay.
The modern bathroom was clean and spacious with a walk-in shower and a granite vanity. Kudos for the great water pressure and the small foot rest perfect for leg shaving.
I’m looking forward to visiting Denver again so I can stay at this great property.
Happy travels!
Veronique
Veronique Deblois is a travel industry veteran who’s currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
The Wentworth Mansion, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is a historic hotel in downtown Charleston. Through my social media efforts, I won a three-night stay at this illustrious property and our stay was simply perfect on all levels: luxurious accommodations, gracious hospitality, an award-winning restaurant and exclusive amenities.
Richard Widman purchased The Wentworth Mansion in 1997 and proceeded with an extensive $7 million renovation that preserved and restored historic features including the original staircase, the inlaid floors, and Tiffany glass while adding modern conveniences.
Wentworth Sunroom
We loved that the property, which had been a private residence, was not in a commercial and bustling part of Charleston, yet, it was just steps from award-winning dining, art, history and shopping.
The property’s grounds are lush with green lawns, century-old trees and flowers. There is a private, complimentary parking lot that was welcoming as street parking is common in the neighborhood. A bell person is available to gather belongings from the car and transport them to guest rooms.
All guests receive a complimentary house-made breakfast and nightly chocolates from the restaurant in the mansion’s original carriage house.
When I hear that my room comes with complimentary breakfast, I am not often excited but at Wentworth Mansion, breakfast is an absolute treat. More on Circa 1886 in a bit.
In proper southern hospitality, the property offers afternoon hors d’oeuvres & wine in the Charleston Parlor. There, we had an opportunity to meet other guests and unwind before heading out for the evening. Upon returning from our evenings out, we were greeted by evening port, sherry and brandy.
The Accommodations
Each of the 21 guest rooms has a unique size, shape and architectural features. The property offers pet-friendly guest rooms for patrons with pets have easy access to the lawn and homemade dog biscuits.
Mansion Bathroom
Mansion Room
Our room was one of the Mansion Rooms, once the bedrooms of the family that built the Mansion. The elegant guest room is spacious (averaging about 475 square feet) and beautifully appointed with a king-size bed with premium linens, an expansive bathroom with oversized whirlpool tub, a walk-in shower and luxurious bath products and a gas fireplace. There was a sitting area where I enjoyed reading a book and a desk where we could have worked comfortably, but did not. There is nightly turndown service.
Rooms also feature refrigerators with complimentary soft drinks and bottled water, flat screen televisions, DVD players, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, cozy robes and safety deposit box. Rooms and common areas offer complimentary internet access.
Wentworth Lobby
The Food
Tucked away in the gardens behind Wentworth Mansion in the original carriage house, Circa 1886 Chef Marc Collins honors Charleston traditions while creating contemporary cuisine beautifully crafted with the finest, locally-sourced ingredients from the area’s fields, pastures and waters.
The delicious breakfast that comes with stays at Wentworth Mansion features homemade pastries, delectable coffee and local favorite dishes. Service is friendly and polished but not stuffy and the setting is beautifully appointed.
We also enjoyed dinner at Circa 1886. We opted for the five-course Chef’s Tasting Dinner. The typical cost of this $75 dinner is reduced for hotel guests. It is a considerable value for food that is so fabulous.
More about Circa 1886 in an upcoming post.
The Spa
Originally the Mansion’s stables, The Spa provides everything guests needs to rejuvenate and replenish amid 14-foot vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and rustic beauty.
A stay at Wentworth Mansion is an absolute treat and pampering experience and I look forward to returning.
I’ve been a frequent guest at Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis when I’ve traveled to my company’s headquarters. The hotel is outstanding on many levels: service, accommodations, location, amenities. The property is centrally-located near the convention center.
About Hotel Ivy
This luxury Starwood hotel incorporates the historic Ivy Tower and features 136 rooms with 21 luxurious suites. The staff is polished, warm and helpful. The lobby is simple and classy and is where the check-in desk and the lounge are. The hotel offers meeting space also.
About the Rooms
While there are several room categories to select from, I’ve always stayed in the Superior Room which is the hotel’s “entry level” room. The room design is much like the whole feel of the hotel – understated elegance. It’s about 400 square feet and features a soothing color palette of creams and blues accented by dark wood. There’s a sitting area, a desk perfect for getting some work done, an ultra-comfortable bed with premium linens and a flat screen television. There’s also a clever custom armoire that creates a sense of division between the bathroom, wardrobe area and bedroom. The bathroom is tiled in limestone and offers both an enclosed glass shower and deep soaking tub. I opt for a king bed but a two queen bed layout is also available.
By the way, the hotel is pet-friendly.
Spacious SHower
Soaking Tub
Wardrobe Divider
About the Amenities
I’ve taken advantage of three of the hotel’s amenities while visiting: the spa, the lounge and the fitness center.
The Spa Club is luxurious without being showy. It features 14 treatment rooms offering specialty massages, body treatments, facials, nail services, and more.
The lobby lounge is named Venetia and features creative mixologists who make drink that rival any of the hippest bars in town. There are also many wines by the glass and a fun beer list, including local favorites. There’s a great happy hour daily from 3PM – 7PM.
There are also a restaurant, the very popular Monello, serving classic Italian fare.
Ivy Fitness Club is beyond a business traveler’s hotel gym dreams. The club has more than 5,000 square feet of state-of-the-art fitness equipment. There are also classes (more to come in a separate post).
I’ve visited the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess over Thanksgiving for the last two years. I’m in the travel industry and see MANY nice properties in the course of a year, yet, this gorgeous resort is at the very top of my list.
About the Property
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a AAA Five Diamond resort situated in the Sonoran Desert. The property features 750 guest rooms, six pools, two newly-renovated TPC championship golf courses, five top-ranked restaurants and lounges, an award-winning spa with a salon and a wellness facility, catch-and-release fishing lagoons and the popular Trailblazer’s Kid’s Club and Family Adventure Center.
Standard Room
Living Room & Patio
Top Notch Food & Drinks
Having a solid food and beverage program is something that’s a must for us when staying at a hotel. The Princess excels in both with award-winning restaurants and specialty lounges/bars.
For a casual breakfast or lunch, we like Ironwood American Kitchen which serves classic American cuisine in a casual indoor/outdoor bistro atmosphere. The all-day offering ranges from flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and salads.
Our dinner favorite is La Hacienda, celebrity chef Richard Sandoval’s modern Mexican restaurant. We adore the classic-yet-refined Mexican cuisine and the tequila bar that features 240+ varieties of tequila from 36 different labels presented by a Tequila Goddess – amazing mole, guacamole and margaritas!
My golf-avid husband loves to lunch after playing at Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar located at the Clubhouse overlooking the 18th hole of the famed TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. The restaurant has a Pan Latin menu and he enjoys lunch of ceviche paired with one of the 151 varieties of rum available.
Another restaurant I’ll be dining at on my next visit is Bourbon Steak, a Chef Michael Mina restaurant.
Spacious Bathroom
Soaking Tub
Well & Being Spa
When my guy’s at golf, I’m at Well & Being Spa. This place is AMAZING and I’ll write about it in more details in a future post, but it includes more than 70 treatments to choose from, has a top-of-the-line fitness center and tons of daily fitness classes. I love starting the day with a yoga class then enjoying a few spa treatments.
Seasonal Experiences at the Princess
One of the reasons I enjoy visiting this property over Thanksgiving is because of its Christmas at the Princess event. The place transforms in a winter wonderland, yes, in the desert, complete with ice skating rink, giant decorated trees and millions of twinkling lights. The place is festive and beautiful and sets the tone for the holidays to come – I highly recommend it.
The resort features seasonal and holiday experiences complete with specialty menus, decadent brunches, concerts and family-friendly activities. Here’s a bit of info about the four main seasonal experiences:
Note that there’s a daily resort service charge of $30 per room, per night (plus applicable tax). Resort service charge includes half day access to Trailblazers Family Adventure Center for up to three children (ages 5-12, lunch fee additional), self-parking, basic internet access, access to the hotel gym (not the spa fitness center) and more.
Who Should Stay at This Property
The best part of this property is that it truly caters to all: foodies interested in dining at four top-ranked Arizona restaurants, meeting/conference attendees, spa fanatics (like me) looking to partake in the innovative spa and fitness programs at Well & Being Spa, sun worshipers ready to soak in the sun at one of the six sparkling pools, and golf enthusiasts ready to tee off at two newly-renovated 18-hole championship golf courses, including one that’s home to the Annual PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open.
I’ve shown my love for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts on this blog and via social media in the past, and am, once again, doing that, this time for the beautiful, elegant Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, a AAA Four-Diamond property.
I recently stayed at the 687-room, 45-story property while I attended a business meeting within the conference space.
The front-desk staff was beyond courteous and addressed me by name and acknowledged my President Club status. These employees really set the tone for the level of service I’d be experiencing during my stay – simply delightful.
My king-bed room was on the 36th floor and overlooked Grant Park and the water. The furnishings aren’t brand new but are pristinely-maintained. The bedding made it so I never wanted to get up in the morning and the bathroom linens were top-quality.
I appreciate a hotel with bedside electric outlets and the Fairmont didn’t disappoint. The work desk was also well-appointed to fit my business needs with suitable outlets.
The check-out process was on-point with the proper level of appreciation for my business, which will ensure return visits.
The Fairmont Millennium Park Chicago is the perfect property for leisure or business.
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park – 200 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60601. Telephone: (312) 565-8000.
