Vera Wang Suite at Halekulani

Sometimes, a room, or a suite, in a hotel gains so much fame, or notoriety, that it overshadows the hotel itself. This happens when Kings and Presidents stay in Presidential suites, or a famous actor or celebrity prefers to stay in a specific room, and sometimes, when a room is outlandish, such as the Godiva Decadence suite at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York City, which is entirely made of chocolate.

If you limit yourself to Honolulu hotels, only one name comes to mind - the Vera Wang Suite at the Halekulani Hotel, which, as the hotel itself says "is truly one of a kind. Immersed in understated and elegant décor, this one-bedroom suite features 2,135 sq. ft. of interior space, plus a 642 sq. ft. Oceanside lanai. Personally designed by Ms. Wang, The Vera Wang Suite at Halekulani is a timeless, totally original creation.

The hotel takes special care to ensure absolute privacy for the suite's occupants, and to top that off, the suite offers spectacular views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Both the master bedroom and the Lanai overlook the beach, and you won't find a better place for a honeymoon, or to celebrate your love, than in this suite, with the open sky, the stars, and the moon looking down on Diamond Head.

The suite has a 50" plasma television with a complete entertainment center, a deep soaking tub and a seperate glass-enclosed shower, private butler service, a special in-bed breakfast, and 24 hour in-room dining served in-suite or at the private Lanai. The Vera Wang suite guests get chauffeured to and from the airport in a private limousine, and are also offered exclusive in-suite spa treatments courtesy of SpaHalekulani. And also free internet, local calls, in-room safe, complimentary newspapers, business secreterial services, twice-daily turndown service, and VIP passes and services to the Honolulu Symphony, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Bishop Museum, The Contemporary Museum and Iolani Palace.

It's a once in a lifetime oppurtunity for common riffraf to stay at this suite. But anyway, its not like we go on Honolulu vacations every other year. So if you're willing to say, what the heck, let's just do it, then call (800) 367-2343 to make reservations.

Info: 2199 Kalia Road Honolulu Hawaii 96815; (808) 923-2311; www.halekulani.com/

Green Getaway At The Ambrose, Santa Monica

Located a block from the Wilshire business district and a few minutes away from the Pacific Ocean, the Ambrose hotel in Santa Monica bills itself as an enticing offer of a 'green experience' with guilt-free luxury Los Angeles vacations.

While Los Angeles does have its share of tree hugging do-gooders, its not as prominent on the environment friendly crusade as San Francisco, which has ultimate eco-friendly hospitality offerings like the LEED certified Orchard Garden. But now, Los angeles hotels have a green role model in the Ambrose, which got itself certified as the first ever LEED-EB (that's short for existing building) certified U.S. hotel. While it would be beyond the scope of this blog to explain what LEED is, let's just say that its the holy grail for being certified as a green outlet, building, service provider, etc. More details on their website - www.usgbc.org/leed/ and detailed info about the Ambrose hotel's green initiatives, certifications and green practices can be found here.

As far as amenities and services for guests are concerned, the hotel offers hybrid car rentals and preferred parking for hybrids, along with complimentary parking for for all guests in the hotel's secure underground parking lot. There's a free organic breakfast with Starbucks fair trade organic coffee for all guests, free hotel wide wi-fi, a recreation and exercise room, business center with meeting space, a lush Asian themed garden, concierge services and 24 hour in-room dining. The Ambrose also offers its guests complimentary transport around Santa Monica in biodiesel-fueled taxis and use of chauffeured limousines powered by alternative energy.

The 77 guest rooms are furnished and equipped with Italian bed linens, Aveda bath products, a mini bar with a choice selection of wines, beer and organic snacks and goodies. Some of the rooms have hardwood floors. Al rooms offer free wi-fi internet, DVD/CD players with surround sound, a complimentary USAToday, guest laundry and same day drycleaning. Rates from $239.

Info: 1255 20th Street Santa Monica CA 90404; (310) 315-1555; www.ambrosehotel.com/

Gas Card Specials From Hotel Cass Chicago

Stay one night at the Hotel Cass Chicago and get a $25 gas card, or stay 2+ nights and get a $50 gas card. Valid until Sept 3 2008. Click here for more details. The Cass is located steps from 'The Magnificient Mile', with shopping at over 460 retailers and 275 restaurants, which is Chi-town's equivalent of Fifth Ave in NYC. Rates from $199 (taxes extra).

Usually, most hotels offering gas cards would also be offering free parking. After all, the gas card really is more symbolic than anything else, and the savings on the gas are usually tucked away as add-ons somewhere else in your hotel bill, while making it seem like driving to the hotel is cheaper because of the gas card. If you're offering free parking, that enhances the impression. Point of all this babble is that Chicago hotels don't seem to get this concept, and the cussed Cass is charging a whopping $32 for self parking, and $45 for valet parking.

So anyway, what the Cass offers is hotel-wide complimentary internet (both wired and wireless), complimentary breakfast which includes bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy, alternate days of scrambled eggs or cheese omelets, and the hotel's signature cinnamon rolls, 24 hour complimentary coffee, tea, and juices in lobby along with daily newspaper, and a business center.

In-room amenities include a pillow top bed, flat screen HDTV, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, bath toileteries, an in-room safe and valet laundry service. Not saying the Cass is the best hotel for Chicago vacations, but it is does offer clean and spacious rooms, a sumptous free breakfast, and is willing to reimburse you for a part of your gas bill. The location isn't too shabby either. That's not so a bad deal, anyway which way you look at it.

Info: 640 North Wabash Avenue Chicago Illinois 60611; (312) 787-4030; www.casshotel.com/

Gassy Suite Nights Special at Alexander Hotel Miami Beach

Planning for Miami vacations with family? The Alexander Hotel, Miami Beach, which sits 'on' the beach at Collins Ave, is offering a Gassy Suite Nights special, which includes accomodations for 4 people in a junior 2-bedroom suite, $50.00 gas credit towards food & beverage, and daily breakfast for 4.

The suite includes living area, dining area, full kitchen, 2 full bathrooms, private balcony, master bedroom with a king or queen size bed, and a second bedroom with twin beds. Rates from $224.00 per night (taxes extra), with a 2 night minimum stay required. That comes to $528.24 for 2 nights, for a full family of four people, plus free breakfast and $50 credit for food & drinks. Package valid until Dec 24 2008. More details and online booking here.

Why call it a 'gas credit', when it can only be used for food and drinks? And you get breakfast free, anyway. Also, the $50 food and drinks credit is likely for the Shula's Steak House housed inside the Alexander, and you'll probably end up wiping out the credit in half a meal. Be that as it may, fact is that this is as good a deal as you're going to get at one of the comparable beachfront Miami hotels on Collins Avenue.

The Alexander, like most other Miami Beach oceanfront resorts, has a magnificient pair of lagoon shaped pools, with lush gardens and a cascading waterfall rounding up the impression of a tropical oasis. Two jacuzzis, private cabanas and al fresco dining and bar service add to the luxury. The hotel also offers its guests use of business and fitness centers, along with the Gianfranco Salon and Spa.

The all-suite hotel offers suites ranging fron 1000 to 1250 sq ft., , with balconies either overlooking the beach and the Atlantic, or the intracoastal waterway.

Info: 5225 Collins Avenue Miami Beach Florida 33140; (305) 865-6500; www.alexanderhotel.com/

See Seattle Package from Warwick Hotel

The Warwick Seattle Hotel is offering an all-inclusive Seattle vacations package called 'See Seattle', which includes overnight accommodations for two, American breakfast for two at the Brasserie Margaux restaurant, free parking, and 1 day Go Seattle Card for 2 adults ($98 value with unlimited admission to over 36 attractions in Seattle). Package costs $314, inclusive of all taxes and gratuities. Use promo code PACK2. For more details, call (800) 426-9280 or online booking here.

Let's see if we can break it up into individual compenents and see whether its a fair offer, as compared to other Seattle hotels. For starters, most hotels in Seattle offer free parking, so let's forget about that. Secondly, the breakfast is no biggie either. That leaves the room rates and the Go Seattle Card. If you buy each seperately, the card (for two) costs about $100. And a standard room at the Warwick costs about $154 plus taxes, which comes to about $178. So that's a total of $278 plus breakfast and parking ($27 at the hotel's parking garage), if you decide to buy all of it seperately.

Not much difference either way, whether you book the package or not. So should you buy the See Seattle package or not? On the Go Seattle Card website, it says the package costs $240, while on the Warwick's website, it says $314. I have a feeling the hotel might reduce the rate if you called up, so give it a shot.

Is the Warwick good enough to merit all this hassle? Well, its situated within walking distance of Pike Place Market and all the important things to do in Seattle for tourists. The Warwick also has an indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool, sauna, fitness and business centers with over 2000 sq ft of meeting space, and internet access ($11 for one day, $20 for two).

Dining facilities include the aforementioned Brasserie Margaux, which serves American and European breakfast favourites including pancakes, French toast, eggs Benedict and Seattle-style standards, along with lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends. The Margaux Lounge is a full service bar offering burgers, salads, chowder and appetisers.

The hotel offers 230 guest rooms outfitted with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors which lead out to a private Juliet balcony, with views of the Seattle Space Needle or city skyline. Rooms also feature Italian marble bathrooms, wet bar with minibar or refrigerator, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, in-room safe, in-room complimentary coffee and tea, movie and games system and designer bath amenities.

Info: 401 Lenora Street Seattle Washington 98121; (206) 443-4300; www.warwickwa.com/

20% Off at Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel San Francisco

San Francisco vacations don't come cheap, but if you book in for a stay between either August 31st to September 1st or between December 9th to December 12th, you'll receive 20% off at the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel in Downtown San Francisco. You'll have to check for rates and availability, because when I tried to book online, it said that the 20% off is only if you stay for at least 4 nights, and 30% off if you stay for 5 nights. But they may offer the 20% off even for shorter stays if you call them at (800) 595-0507. Rates from $159 per night (this is the lowest standard room rate, without the 20% discount).

They have a lotta other specials, including a 'Cars Stay Free' package, a 'Breakfast for Two' package and a 'Burke Williams Spa Package'. But after looking at the prices on the rest of the packages (around or over $200), I figure the only one worth discussing is the 20% discount package. I mean, if you can get a room for about $120 at a big hotel like the Parc 55, that just about beats the rates offered by all comparable San Francisco hotels.

In addition to 21,000 sq ft of meeting and event space, the Parc 55 offers its guests use of a 24 hour health club, dry sauna, a coffee shop (Barbary Coast), cocktail lounge (Piazza Lounge), a sports bar (Barley 'N Hops) and two restaurants - The Veranda Restaurant which serves California cuisine, and Siam Thai which offers Thai cuisine. Amenities and services for guests include a business center, room service, massage therapists, tour desk, gift shop, valet parking ($44 plus 14% tax for parking - No wonder they have a 'cars stay free' package.. ), overnight laundry and child-care services (on request).

The 32 story Parc 55 offers 1,010 guest rooms and 18 executive suites with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. In-room amenities include cable televsion with video games and on-demand movies, hair dryer, iron and ironing board and makeup mirrors, blackout drapes, coffee and tea maker, workdesk, complimentary newspaper, high speed internet, and shower massage.

Info: 55 Cyril Magnin Street San Francisco CA 94102; (415) 392-8000; www.parc55hotel.com/

Miyako Inn Los Angeles Hotel Weekend Special

The Miyako Inn, Los Angeles is offering a weekend getaway package for $109 per night, which includes free upgrade to Executive room and a compimentary continental breakfast every morning. Minimum 2 night stay required, and package valid Friday through Sunday only. More details and online booking here. That's quite reasonable, compared to other downtown Los Angeles hotels.

The hotel has a business center and meeting room with computer, internet and copy services (extra charges apply), along with valet parking ($18). For guests, the hotel offers free in-room internet, and the 11th floor Executive rooms have free wireless internet. Being a Japanese hotel, the Miyako offers a health spa with a Jacuzzi, with Dry / Steam sauna, and Shiatsu Asian massage treatment. The Spa also houses a fitness center with exercise equipment.

The rooms, in tune with the rest of the hotel, are functional without being decadent or overly luxurious. Considering the price and location, its not all that bad. Twin beds with headboards, bare walls, a small workdesk with a cair, and large windows with floor to celing drapes. Each room comes with a complimentary DSL connnection, hair dryer, iron & ironing board, coffee maker and electronic safety box. rates from $109 to $149 (taxes extra).

The $149 is the standard per night rate for the executive rooms, so if you book the weekend package, you basically save $40 per night, assuming you want the executive room. In a nutshell, the hotel may not be an A-lister, but if you're on a budget Los Angeles vacation, then the price, location and functionality of the Miyako, not to mention the neat spa, provide an attractive option.

Info: 328 East 1st Street Los Angeles CA 90012; (213) 617-2000; www.miyakoinn.com/

DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento, California State Fair Package

The DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento is offering a special California State Fair package from $105 per night. Includes two adult tickets and transportation right upto the main gates of the State Fair. Valid until September 3rd 2008. For package details and online booking, click here.

The California State Fair this year will be held from August 15 to September 1, 2008. Info: 1600 Exposition Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815; (916) 263-FAIR; www.bigfun.org/; Discount tickets purchased in advance - $8 adults, $6 seniors (62+), $5 children (5-12) and free for children (0-4). Tuesdays are 'Kids Days', and all kids aged 12 and below get free admission. Seniors can get $2 discounts on Fridays. Single vehicle parking - $8.

Most major Sacramento hotels will be packed to the rafters during the third and fourth weeks, so it might be advisable to book well in advance. So let's talk some more about the DoubleTree and the State Fair package. I tried to do a booking for the package, rates for which are 'said' to be from $105, but the cheapest I could find, online, and for the State Fair Package, was $185 plus taxes for a single room with queen bed or beds. If you want a King bed, the cost goes up over $200. And for Sacramento, $200 plus taxes, even if you take out the $16 for the fair tickets, is pretty steep. At least $50 overpriced, if you consider that a hotel in Sacramento charges an average nightly rate of around $120 to $130.

I mean, you might as well get a cheaper room at another hotel and buy a couple of tickets to the State Fair with your own money. And if you have a car, the shuttle becomes redundant. So is the DoubleTree Sacramento worth it for the extra cash?

Well, you decide... The amenities they offer include a business center with meeting rooms and other necessities for business travelers, high chairs and cribs for families on vacation, and general amenities and services include a concierge desk and room service, coin laundry, gift shop and news stand, valet service, fitness center, pool and pool table. Dining facilities at the hotel include an Espresso Bar and the Cityside Cafe just off the lobby which whips up a sumptous breakfast buffet spread, along with the traditional fare for lunch and dinner. Free parking at the hotel's open parking lot.

The 448 guest rooms and suites are furnished with working desk and chair, hair dryers, iron and ironing board, coffee maker with coffee and tea, cable TV 21 channels, HBO and on-demand movies. Internet access in-room is available for an extra $9.95 per day, and most rooms have their own balcony. The Queen bed rooms, which offer the lowest rates with the State Fair package, each offer 5 jumbo hypo-allergenic down pillows, oversized chair and large desk with ergonomic chairs. A spacious bathroom is kitted out with Neutrogena bath products and cotton terry robes.

Info: 2001 Point West Way Sacramento CA 95815; (916) 929-8855; Website

1 Night Free at Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs

The thing about Palm Springs is that it's cheap, and the desert has a whole lotta dirt, so what you have is a dirt cheap Palm Springs holiday with lots of shopping, golf and poolside action. Which is why the Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs is offering the 3rd night free if you book in for 2 nights. Valid until September 30, 2008. Use promo code 89934 for online booking, or call (760) 322-9000. Rates starting at $99, if your stay is in August.

Rates at Palm Springs hotels usually fluctuate on a daily basis much more than other areas in California (don't ask why). So you should probably keep your dates flexible enough and check to see which days of the month you get the best rate.

As far as the Hyatt is concerned, its one of the better digs in palm Springs, and offers everything from an airport shuttle to ice machines (you're gonna need it, trust me..) and a manicure salon and full service spa. Other guest services and amenities include wireless internet, health club, valet parking, a heated outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool with a sundeck, jogging and bicycle trails, and A-grade meeting and banquet facilities.

Dining options include the Palm Court cafe with Californian cuisine, Bar Blue for light snacks and appetizers, and Cafe 285 and Spritzes which serves American cuisine.

The 193 guest rooms and suites each offer two televisions with cable and pay-per-view movies, individual climate control, Full bath amenities with Whirlpool bath or bidet in Executive / VIP suites, hairdryer, coffee maker, In-room refrigerator, Iron / ironing board, in-room safety-deposit box and daily newspaper at the front desk.

Info: 285 North Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA 92262; (760) 322-9000; http://palmsprings.hyatt.com/

Zoo Explorer Special at Holiday Inn On the Bay, San Diego

Holiday Inn On the Bay San Diego is offering a 'Zoo Explorer' special which includes overnight accommodations in newly renovated room with walk-out furnished balcony and 2 adult passes to the San Diego Zoo. Complimentary shuttle service available on schedule. Experience relaxing views of the San Diego Bay or Downtown City Skyline.

Passes good for admission, unlimited use of guided bus tour, express bus & Skyfari Aerial Tram. Excludes special ticketed events & attractions. . If you like this one, there's also a 'Sea World Adventure' package which includes two adult tickets to SeaWorld San Diego, instead of to the Zoo. Rates for the Zoo special from $239 based on double occupancy. Average nightly rates, without the special, from $179 (taxes extra). that's pretty decent, as far as San Diego hotels are concerned, and especially when you consider the prime location at North Harbor Drive on the Embarcadero.

In addition to the shuttle, amenities at this hotel include business services such as copy & fax, high speed wi-fi internet availability in the lobby with a Microsoft powered PC, courier service, and printing facility. There's also a bike rental and an outdoor pool with a poolside gym, and a full service health & fitness center, if you feel like working out. Other amenities and services include same day dry cleaning and guest self laundry facilities, a convenience store, news stand and a gift shop, concierge services, room-service, self-parking ($20) and valet parking ($26).

The hotel is pet friendly (two pets allowed per room) and family friendly with connecting rooms available, and in fact also has the 'Kids Eat Free' program (you buy a meal, your kid gets one free), cribs and rollaway beds on request, and an in-room Nintendo game cube with in-room video game check-in and checkout facilities.

Dining facilities in-hotel include Ruth's Chris Steakhouse which serves full meals, the Elephant & Castle Pub which is kinda like a British pub and Hazelwood’s Bayside Deli, which is good for quick bites and snacks and takeaways.

The 14 story hotel has 600 guest rooms, incuding 10 suites, with views of the water or the downtown city skyline. In-room amenities include cable television with pay-per-view movies, coffee maker, hair dryer, high speed internet, iron & ironing board, bath with tub, private balconies, and a work desk with lamp.

Info: 1355 North Harbor Drive San Diego CA 92101; (619) 232-3861; www.hisandiegoonthebay.com/

1 Night Free at the NYC Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel, New York City, is offering a third night free summer special until September 1. Includes third night complimentary when you book and pay for two consecutive nights. And a VIP Package at Saks 5th Ave, exclusive personal shopping experience in the Fifth Avenue Club,
complimentary coffee and dessert in one of Saks Fifth Avenue's restaurants. Rates from $615 per night (taxes extra), based on double occupancy. Offer valid on a three-night consecutive stay. Call (888) 240-7775 or click here for online booking and more details about the package.

Please note that I don't normally recommend any hotel which charges in excess of $250 or $300 per night. After all, its just four walls and a roof with a bed and bathroom inside. But the Plaza is a different matter. Its not just a hotel. As any New Yorker who has lived in NYC for the last 10 to 20 years or more will tell you, the Plaza is an institution, a part of the social and cultural fabric of the Big Apple. Brunch and tea with friends and family at the Plaza's Palm Court restaurant used to a be rite - Just one of the weekly things to do in New York. And the hotel has a rich history and over 100 years of tradition dating back to 1907. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1969, and is also listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The hotel re-opened a few months back after a massive lobby to roof renovation which took 3 years and over $400 million. As of now, it is sparkling new, but maintains the same look and feel, with the same Beaux Arts décor, the stained glass and tradition of afternoon tea in the Palm Court, and the old Oak Room and Oak Bar. New additions to this formidable list include the Champagne Bar, the Rose Club, and a Tranquility Garden with reflecting pools, elaborate lighting and exotic foliage.

The Plaza now offers 282 guestrooms, including 102 suites. Each room has been exquisitely designed with Louis XV style French decor to provide optimum luxury and indulgence. Every room has chamdeliers, 24-carat gold plated Sherle Wagner designed sinks and fixtures cradled by imported and hand crafted solid white marble vanities. This is not the standard issue brass and polish that a Hilton offers. The Plaza offers aristocratic lodgings and treats its guests like royalty.

Even the standard Plaza room is a spacious 475 sq ft, with 1 King bed, a comfortable sitting area with a table and one or two arm chairs, and a writing desk and chair. That's almost double the size of what average New York hotels offer. In-room amenities include a wall mounted flat screen television, a mosaic tiled bathroom with glass shower and bathtub, Mascioni bath towels, robes and linen, Miller Harris toiletries, hairdryer, refrigerated private bar, and iron and ironing board, in addition to other gizmos and electronic gadgets and amenities.

Info: Fifth Avenue at Central Park South New York, New York 10019; (212) 759-3000; www.fairmont.com/theplaza/

$59 Rooms At Golden Nugget Las Vegas

Rates from $59 per night with the 'Super Summer Room' offer at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas for stays before September 30 2008. $59 per night (Sunday - Thursday, taxes extra) and receive a $25 Food & Beverage Credit and 2-for-1 Tickets to 'Defending the Caveman'. Two night consecutive minimum stay required to receive Food & Beverage credit and 2-for-1 Tickets. Rates based on single or double occupancy. Call (800) 634-3454 for reservations or click here for more details and online booking.

If I write about everything this monster hotel & casino complex has, it'll take me more than a few pages. So here's the 'fast facts'. Three towers housing 1,907 guestrooms, including one and two bedroom suites, 27 luxury apartments in the Spa Suite Tower and six Penthouse Suites in the North Tower. 38,000 square feet of gaming area, which includes approximately 1,200 slot and video poker machines and 50 table games. A 600-seat showroom featuring headliner entertainers and nightly headline entertainment. More than 20,500 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities, including 13 meeting and banquet rooms. Outdoor pool with live sharks, Jacuzzi and private cabanas, complete spa, salon and fitness center, and full-service business center.

Dining facilities include the Carson Street Café (American), Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Lillie’s Noodle House (Asian), Grotto Italian Ristorante, The Buffet and a Starbucks. Shopping facilities include the Perfect Timing watch shop, Trend & Style for clothing and jewelry, and other assorted shops with essentials, newspapers, snacks and stuff.

As for the accomodations, standard rates for guest rooms are between $79 - $189 and the suites for between $175 - $750. The rooms for the super summer package are in the South Tower, and come with high speed internet, in-room movies, safe deposit boxes, hair dryers, iron & ironing boards, full sized desks and bathrobes. Bathrooms have marble flooring, and each room has a vanity area with lighted makeup mirror.

In case you feel the need to leave all this 'wonderfulness' behind and check out the things to do in Las Vegas, the hotel offers golf, tennis and sightseeing tours.

Info: Golden Nugget Hotel 129 E. Fremont Street Las Vegas NV 89101; (702) 385-7111; www.goldennugget.com/ ; Photos courtesy & copyrights Golden Nugget Hotels and Casinos

Best Western Anaheim Inn

Here's a question for you. Would you rather spend your money on the things to do in Anaheim, or spend it on tipping a snotty room-service guy and valet parking? I'm talking about booking in at a cheap Big Western, as opposed to upscale digs like the Hilton. And say what you will about them, Best Westerns are darn cheap, especially if you're talking about staying with family.

One of these cheapos is the Best Western Anaheim Inn, located a mile away from the Anaheim Convention Center. Plus, you get a $25 gas card if you stay for 3 consecutive nights (offer valid until Sept 30th 2008). As it is, a standard room for two costs about $113. Children under 18 can stay free. Take out the $25 gas card, and you get a room for a full family for around $88 per night. With free parking. That's near the Convention Center, one of the most heavily visited tourist areas in the world that we're talking about here.

And its not like we're talking about a dump. Amenities at the Anaheim Inn include a front desk which provides Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets & CityPass for purchase, a restaurant & lounge next door, a heated pool, spa & sauna, same day dry cleaning & valet service, and guest laundry.

In-room amenities include a mini-refrigerator & microwave, kitchenettes available upon request, cable television with HBO, Disney Channel, ESPN, CNN & MTV, high speed wireless internet, coffeemaker with complimentary coffee & tea, hairdryer, and iron & ironing board.

You won't get ripped off, the location is good, and you'll get exactly what you paid for, which isn't shining brass and chandeliers, but comfortable and cleanliness and you have all the basic stuff you need for an overnight stay.

Info: 1630 S. Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 774-1050; www.anaheiminn.com/

Ohana Hotels Stimulus Rebate Special at Waikiki

Ohana hotels is offering a stimulus rebate special at five of its hotels in Waikiki. $129 at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber, $119 at Ohana East, $109 at Ohana Waikiki West, $109 at Ohana Waikiki Malia, and $119 at the Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel. Rates are per room, per night, based on double occupancy. Package valid until December 21, 2008. More details and online booking here.

From what I know, best of the lot is the Ohana East Hotel, located at the corner of Kuhio Avenue and Kaiulani Avenue, steps away from Waikiki Beach, International Market Place, and Kalakaua Avenue. Its just a minute from Lewers Street, and a short walk away from Kapiolani Park, Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Aquarium. Even better, the Ohana stimulus package comes with free access to the Waikiki Trolley, meaning that you can easily poke around the things to do in Honolulu.

The standard room rate at this hotel is around $204, so you save about $95 per night with the $119 stimulus package. Can't get a better deal in Waikiki, at this rate and from a touristy view point, unless someone gifted you a stay at the Hilton Hawaiaan Village.

Amenities at the Ohana East include three restaurants, an espresso cafe, room service, fitness room, swimming pool, high-speed Internet access, self-service laundry and a video arcade. The standard guest rooms, included in the stimulus package, are about 240 sq ft, with hair dryer,
in-room safe, iron & ironing board, refrigerator, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, shower and cable, pay-per-view movies and a nintendo for games. Cribs and rollaway beds available upon request (extra charges may apply).

That's pretty basic, but considering the kind of rates which other resorts and Honolulu hotels will make you pay, and considering the location of the Ohana East, this, like I said, is a pretty good deal. Point is, its a decent hotel, good location, cheap rates and service ain't that bad either.

Info: 150 Kaiulani Avenue Honolulu Hawaii 96815; (808) 922-5353; Website

Recommended Bed & Breakfast Inn's, Fort Lauderdale

As far as I'm concerned, a hotel is a place where you go to sleep and rest, when you're visiting a new place. So long as its decent, spacious and comortable, and all the amenities work, I don't really look for much else. I mean, you don't visit some place, and then spend all your time in the hotel room, unless you happen to be a nutty Hollywood star. Which is why I prefer a B&B to a hotel. On the minus side, since B&B Inns are usually mom & pop enterprises, there's no real guarantee of getting what you paid for, unlike a Kimpton Hotel, or a Hilton or Marriott, where the brand name ensures that you get exactly what you are promised.

As a compromise, what you can do is frequent B&B's which you know for sure are going to be at least as good as the offer, if not better than advertised. To make a long story short, here's a list of Bed & Breakfast Inns in Fort Lauderdale which are culled from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau's recommended list. You can rest assured that these are quality places, spend the money saved on shopping and things to do in Fort lauderdale, and thank me for afters.

Green Island Inn: 3300 NE 27th St., Fort Lauderdale 33308; (888) 505-8951, Contact - Michael Green

Pelican Place: 3221 NE 7th Place, Pompano Beach 33062; (954) 956-8999; www.4rentbythebeach.com/

Villa Venezia: 132 Isle of Venice Dr., Fort Lauderdale 33301; (954) 832-0981; www.villa-venezia.com/

Tropi Rock Resort: 2900 Belmar St., Fort Lauderdale 33304; (800) 987-9385; www.tropirock.com/

Sea Turtle Inn: 315 Roosevelt Street, Hollywood 33019; (954) 599-9199; www.hotels-rates.com/

Phoenix Beach House & Guest Apartments: 3609 NE 27th St., Fort Lauderdale 33308; (954) 733-7701; www.beachguesthouse.com/

Berkshire Beach Club Of Deerfield: 500 N. A1A Hwy., Deerfield Beach 33441; (888) 595-2382; www.pyramidresorts.com/

Sleepless in Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle

Thanks to Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, there is, and always will be, a heavy fog of romance smothering Seattle, especially for couples hoping to hit third base or build a stronger relationship. And in the romantic heart of Seattle, directly across from the Seattle Public Library, sits the Vintage Park Hotel (a Kimpton Hotel), which bills itself as the place for romantic escapades, weddings and wine & dine getaway weekends. The downtown location offers a splendid way to begin an exploration of Washington's wine country and it also provides easy access to all the important attractions and things to do in Seattle.

Each room in this boutique hotel is dedicated to a local Washington State winery and vineyard. The Vintage Park astutely promotes a gaggle of romance specials which include free bottles of wine from local vineyards. For example, there's the Taste of Tuscany package which includes accommodations for two with a bottle of Washington wine delivered to your room at turndown, handpicked by the hotel's 'Grape Goddess', hosted evening wine hour from 5PM to 6PM in the hotel's lobby, complimentary overnight valet parking, morning newspaper and morning coffee service.

All guest rooms in the Vintage Park hotel offer complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access, on-demand pay-per-view movies, CNN and ESPN, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, bathrobes, Aveda amenities, down pillows, sound-proof windows, mini-bar, 24-hour Room Service and concierge service, complimentary newspapers, overnight shoeshine, same-day laundry service, in-room exercise and yoga programs, and an essential travel items kit. The hotel is pet-friendly, and even offers a special pet package that comes complete with a pet survival kit, and a special bed for pets, food and water dish and a t-shirt, with dog walkers and dog-sitters available through the concierge.

Rates from $319 (try using Priceline or Hotwire to get cheaper rates). Hotel amenities include meeting facilities, a fitness center, and most important of all - Umbrellas, which is a prized possession to have in Seattle.

Info: 1100 Fifth Avenue Seattle WA 98101; (206) 624-8000; www.hotelvintagepark.com/

Green Hotels in San Francisco

So nowadays almost every hotel touts some kind of green aka eco-friendly initiative, or certification or some sort of affiliation with any one of dozens of green business groups. But at the end of the day, its a bit difficult to judge whether your stay at the hotel was actually different from any other hotel, as in more of a greener stay or not.

Point I'm trying to make is that it would be nice if you could say, with absolute certainity, that your stay was greener then the green goblin. San Francisco is one of the pioneer cities in this regard, and most things to do in San Francisco are bound to be environmentally correct, and there are a few hotels where you can walk in blind, do anything you want, or use any of their services and amenities, and still be able to say that you didn't fall off the green wagon.

One of those hotels happen to be the Orchard Garden hotel, LEED certified (which is very rare for a hotel), eco-friendly rooms, guestroom key card energy control system, in-room recycling system, chemical-free cleaning products, compact fluorescent light bulbs and a 100% tobacco-free environment. Nice location in Union Square, neat, luxurious and you can rest assured that everything you do and use is going to be eco-friendly. Info: 466 Bush Street San Francisco CA 94108; (415) 399-9807; www.theorchardgardenhotel.com/

Another hotel almost as green as the Orchard Garden is the Triton hotel, again in Union Square, featuring eco rooms with integrated practices such as a sophisticated waste recycling program, biodegradable cleaning products, recycled paper, and organic coffee. Hotel Triton's environmental efforts became the inspiration and blueprint for Kimpton Hotel's eco-program in 2005, which is now being implemented at all Kimpton Hotels nationwide. Info: 342 Grant Avenue at Bush Street San Francisco CA 94104; (415) 394-0500; www.hoteltriton.com/

Other San Francisco hotels which fall into the category of 'very green' include the Fairmont San Francisco and Hotel Palomar.

Weekend Special At Hilton Checkers Los Angeles

The Hilton Checkers Los Angeles is offering weekend specials with rates starting from $149 per night. That's around $100 less than the standard room rate. More details about the special here.

If being a part of the hot LA scene is on your list of things to do in Los Angeles, you might want to find anotehr place. Because the 12 story Hilton Checkers is a sort of a misfit amongst the other luxury Los Angeles hotels surrounding it, and has its own place in the history books (built in 1927) and a kind of understated charm and a feeling that this is not a place where you want to flaunt your wealth or status.

This European conservativeness is totally against what goes for conventional hotel wisdom in Los Angeles, as far as decor and big, splashy amenities and flamboyant lobbies and eclectic rooms are concerned. The Hilton Checkers steers clear of all these entrapments, and instead offers neutral toned walls, a wood-paneled library, a discrete rooftop pool with a sundeck and whirlpool and a great view of Downtown LA, and quiet corridors adorned with Asian antiques.

But what the Hilton Checkers does, it does unqualifiably well. The Checkers restaurant is a peaceful oasis highly favored by those in the know, with a menu featuring cuisine ranging from Contemporary American to stylish French, with the Checkers Lounge being heavily frequented by the regulars sipping martinis in an intimate setting.

The Checkers Spa is not just a spa attached to a hotel. Mostly, its the other way around. The Spa is so good, offering so many massages and treatments, with state-of-the-art equipment, that its actually an asset which pulls in a lot of clients who end up staying at the hotel, just to be able to attend spa sessions.

The 188 guest rooms are equally solid and furnished with elegance and attention to detail, like the fresh flowers in the bathroom, which by the way is outfitted with marble flooring, Neutrogena toileteries, a hairdryer and shower massager. Ergonomic leather chairs, flat screen television with free cable and pay-per-view movies, free high speed internet, complimentary coffee with a coffee-maker, iron & ironing board, CD player and a complimentary copy of USAToday await you in the rooms. Hotel amenities include valet parking ($23), 24 hour room service and concierge services.

Info: 535 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071; (213) 624-0000; www.hiltoncheckers.com/

PerriHouse Bed & Breakfast Inn Orlando

The PerriHouse Bed & Breakfast Inn is located inside a bird sanctuary located a few minutes' drive away from DisneyWorld and Universal Studios. If you get a bit tensed up by the hustle and bustle of the dazzling range of things to do in Orlando and with the buzz and thrills inside the theme parks, the PerriHouse is a perfect way to unwind and relax with a pond, a small birdhouse musuem and observation paths to watch the woodpeckers and hawks and herons that inhabit and fly in to the 15 acres off sanctuary that surround the Inn.

The Inn itself is kind of a laid back place, with four poster platform beds and fireplaces. A far cry from the luxury resorts that dot the landscape around and inside DisneyWorld and Universal Studios. Of course, there's also a take associated with this give. Meaning that when you get a $99 room in a scenic and peaceful location a few minutes' drive from one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, there's got to be a few downsides.

For starters, its not within walking distance of anything. Second, there seems to be a problem with the service, which is as laid back as the Inn itself. And the grounds are not all that well maintained. Most of the rooms are pretty small, and had it not been for the scenic and central location, definitely not worth $130 or more.

These downsides are probably offset if you ask for a suite in the new Villa de Perri, which can accomodate upto 6 people with a seperate living and dining area, and a full size modern kitchen. All the 8 guest rooms are equipped with private entrances and private baths. In-room amenities include a television with VCR and free movies from the library, hardryer and bathrobes, use of the common kitchen if you wish to cook, and a Continental breakfast from 8 to 11 am.

Hotel amenities include a library, a nice outdoor pool and jazuzzi, with a sundeck.

Info: 10417 Vista Oaks Court Lake Buena Vista FL 32836; (800) 780-4830; www.perrihouse.com/

Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Hotel & Spa

Coming soon to Miami, later in 2008, is an aberration of a hotel - Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Hotel & Spa. Aberration because in a city which prides itself on its gross decadence and overt consumption, not to mention alcohol binges and cocaine fueled parties, the Canyon Ranch's signature offering is peace and quiet and an atmosphere of calmness which goes against the very definition of Miami hotels.

A hotel in Miami exists for one, and one reason only - To push their guests off the edge, in terms of crossing over from an 'ordinary' life into the party zone that blankets the City. The Canyon Ranch, on the other hand, aims to bring their hard-partying guests back to reality with a dose of bodily and spiritual rejenuvation. With the kinds of things to do in Miami, the Canyon Ranch is likely going to be kept very busy 'rejunevating' visitors and locals.

Not that they're not materialistic. A night at the Canyon Ranch Miami Beach will cost you a minimum of $650. And for this, you get a waterfall which is meant to convey a message of peace and joy and stuff like that. You get an ice cave, and Yoga pavilions and other stuff which is all meant to squeeze the party animal out of your brain, leaving it drained and bringing you down to reality with a loud thud.

But these are just the accessories. The main tools are the hotel, the guest rooms and the spa. A spectacular lobby designed by David Rockwell awaits you, awash in natural scents, with a 4 stoory suspended mangrove scupture above and polished stone and shell floors below. Thr 150 luxurious guest rooms, all structured to offer specatular views of the ocean, the intracoastal waters and the City. Inside lies an oasis of luxury and state-of-the-art hospitality offerings, with marble baths, a designer kitchen attached to one and two bedroom suites, fine linens and even more fine bedding.

The 70,000 sq ft Wellness Spa has every possible massage and body treatments available, not to mention a rock climbing wall and a full service gym, along with things you might never even have heard of. Its all more than enough to rejunevate a dead body and push in a soul into it and make it stand upright and head for South beach.

Dining options will include the oceanview Canyon Ranch Grill serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the lobby Carillon Cafe for socializing and a quick break, the Conservatory which offers organic tea in a calming atmosphere by exotic greenery and wooden shutters, the pool side Cabana with juices and smoothies, and EEZZ's juice bar located next to the spa reception.

Two other branches of the Canyon Ranch are already in existence in Tucson AZ and Lenox, MA.

Info: 6801 Collins Ave Miami Beach FL 33141; (800) 742-9000; www.canyonranch.com/