So Material Girl at Alden-Houston

The Material Girl who rocked the Astrodome in Houston 18 years ago is back for a Sticky and Sweet tour that includes a Nov. 16 stop at Minute Maid Park. And the Alden-Houston, one of downtown Houston's finest boutique hotels 4 blocks from Minute Maid Park, is offering a 'so material girl' weekend package to help you party (not like a virgin...)

Package includes 2 night deluxe accomodations from Nov 15-16, a Madonna welcome amenity, 3 course dinner for two on Saturday with wine pairings at the hotel's swanky restaurant *17, admission for 2 to Alden's "Sticky and Sweet" pre-concert party on the Veranda with music, videos, and a look-a-like contest, transportation to and from Concert, and overnight valet parking for both evenings. Prices from $619. More details here.

The Alden is a 5 star luxury hotel with 97 deluxe rooms, including 9 luxury suites, all equipped with flat screen televisions, complimentary high-speed internet access, herman-miller ergonomic chairs, dvd and cd/stereo players, in-room safe, mini-bar, feather pillows and premium 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, plush terry bathrobes and towels in granite-walled bathrooms with glass enclosed showers and bathtubs big enough for 2 people, complimentary morning newspaper of your choice, 24-hour room service and fitness center.

The Alden also boasts of one of Houston's finest restaurants in *17, and a hip and happening lounge named a+.

Info: 1117 Prairie Street Houston TX 77002; (832) 200-8800; www.aldenhotels.com/

Breakfast Special from the Ala Moana Honolulu

I figure all Honolulu vacations ought to have at least the basic minimum ingredients including great food, perfect sunny weather, and the hotel itself should be as close to the beaches as possible. There's lots of other stuff you'll be wanting, but this is the foundation on which a weekend or a week in Hawaii is built.

And the Ala Moana, an Outrigger hotel, offers up all you want. And then some. They have a breakfast special package, under which you get select room categories, and vouchers for buffet breakfast at the Plantation Cafe restaurant. The buffet includes scrambled eggs, bacon, steamed rice, breakfast potatoes, French toast or waffles, assorted dry cereals, sliced fresh fruit, whole fruit, assorted yogurt, pastries and breads, juices and milk.

Package rates starting from $149 which offers up a room for 2 people in the Kona Tower with a view of the city, and upto $199 for a room for 2 in the Waikiki Tower with an ocean view. Valid until Dec 31 2008. More details here.

FYI, the hotel recetly reopened after a massive head-to-toe renovation, so everything is sparkling brand new. Rooms offer all the usual stuff, including cable TV, pay-per-view movies and video games, microwave and refrigirator, iron & ironing board, hairdryer, complimentary high speed internet, and bathrooms with tubs and showers.

The hotel is adjacent to the famed Ala Moana Shopping Center, Hawaii Concention Center is a ston'e throw and the best part is the 76-acre Ala Moana Beach Park. Hotel amenities and services include four restaurants offering cuisines for every taste, a popular nightclub called Rumours, business and fitness centers with 14,000 sq ft of meeting space for events, conferences and functions, and a sundeck with a poolside cocktail bar.

Info: 410 Atkinson Drive Honolulu Hawaii 96814; (800) 367-6025; Website

Flemish House B&B Apartments in Chicago

Think about Chicago and history, and most people make a beeline for the Field Museum. But there's lots of history to be experienced, and lived in, on the streets. Take, for example, Flemish House, which dates back to 1892, and is one of the most historical Bed & Breakfasts on the Gold Coast's streets.

Its a posh residential neighbourhood in the city's North side just off Michigan Avenue, but the Inn itself has maintained its historical architecture, and the rates are as down to earth as possible ($155 to $225 depending on the season) in such a 'dignified' area, and considering that Flemish House offers A-grade vintage furnishings coupled with all the modern amenities. The guest rooms feature wood-paneling, fireplaces, in-laid wood floors, and high ceilings.

In-room amenities include wool and cotton blankets and down comforters, fully equipped kitchens with with refrigerator, gas range, sink, microwave oven, and utensils, color television with cable and VCR, individual air-conditioning, high speed wi-fi internet. You have a choice of 1-bedroom aprtaments and studios on each of the three floors. The InnKeepers, Mike Maczka and Tom Warnke, who acquired and renovated the palce in 1997, live on the floor above.

Units are available for 2 night minimums during mid-week and for 3 night minimums on weekends. If you're thinking of extended Chicago vacations, then weekly and monthly stay options and discounts are also available.

Info: 68 East Cedar Street Chicago Il 60611; (312) 664-9981; www.chicagobandb.com/

Pet Palace Package at the Serrano San Francisco

The thing about most pet friendly hotels is that they are pet friendly in name only. Meaning that they allow pet owners to keep their four legged friends in-room, but expect that none of the other guests should even notice that there are dogs or cats in the room next door. But a real hotel which welcomes pets wouldn't be like that. They'd make arrangements to make the pets feel at home, and offer doggie treats and such to entice pet owners to stay.

One such hotel is Kimpton's Serrano hotel in San Francisco's Union Square. They even have a 'Pet Palace package' which goes the extra mile, and in addition to deluxe accomodations, includes special doggy biscuits, and an ample supply of after-dinner disposable clean-up bags. And in case you need it, the hotel stocks convenient pet-friendly necessities such as gourmet lamb & rice dog food, leashes, and rawhide fetch-it sticks. Package rates from $189. Use promo code PPET. More details here.

Complimentary services at the Serrano include morning coffee and tea, and manager's hosted wine reception in the evening, free high speed internet, limo service to the Financial District on working days, a well equipped fitness and business centers.

Plus, most Kimptons, including the Serrano, are pretty neat family hotels and have all the little things like cribs and playpens and pacifiers available upon request. The Ponzu bar & restaurant takes care of the room service, and the hotel offers valet services, including valet parking. Oh, and if you bring in a hybrid vehicle, you get 25% off parking charges.

FYI, I tried a booking, but for dates in September, the only thing available was a couple of suites well above $300, and when I tried Oct, their system said the package was not available. Just so you know...

Info: 405 Taylor Street San Francisco CA 94102; (866) 289-6561; www.serranohotel.com/