Google has just released a new capability on YouTube to create Search Stories. It's basically an easy tool that allows you to make short videos about a series of Google searches, which include the web, maps, images, news, blogs, product search, and books. You can add one of the categorized soundtracks to your video and...there it is! You now have your own personal search story video that you can upload to YouTube and share with your friends and family.
So I got the idea to do my own search story with a luxury hotel theme to it. The story basically shows what I might search for in planning my own trip to a luxury hotel destination. I don't want to spoil the story so check out my Luxury Hotel Search Story video! What would your luxury hotel search story look like? Please post your videos!
.sb06
Showing posts with label hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hotel. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Tour of Washington's Best
Hey everyone,
Sorry it's been a while, life has been hectic! But anyway, I have a great experience to share with you so hopefully the wait has been worth it. Last Sunday, my fiance and I attended the first annual Engaged! in Washington event. This event featured tours of 5 of the best grand luxury hotels in D.C. as they were set up for an actual wedding. The 5 hotels we visited were the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Willard Intercontinental, Hay Adams, and St. Regis, all of which are located in the downtown D.C. area. It was AWESOME!!! Here's the scoop on each the hotels:
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, by far, had the best set-up and experience. We started here, and it was a great start to the evening. We were welcomed by the staff, picked up our registration materials and free gift bags and made our way down the candle lined stairs as a group of violinists played. At the bottom of the stairs, a group of models were showing off their wedding gowns. We proceeded through an arched walkway, talked to some vendors, and entered the large banquet hall where the action really was. The hall was separated by curtains to segment the different phases of a wedding. First, the ceremony area featured a modern set-up, with benches for seating as opposed to chairs.
The next section was the reception area, which featured food stations, dessert tables, an open bar, and more vendors. There was also splits of Moet champagne everywhere, to which the bartender thankfully suggested adding Grand Marnier. For those new to the idea of champagne cocktails, be sure to check it out the next time you have the chance. They also had some delicious white chocolate covered brownies..mm mm! Anyway, the final area featured a set of banquet tables, each of which was decorated in a different style and color theme and we were asked to vote on which one we liked best. Overall, it was an incredible display and again, we salute the Ritz-Carlton for doing big things!
Four Seasons
The Four Seasons, located in Georgetown, probably had one of the lesser impressive displays, but it was still very nice and the hotel lobby and restaurant looked great on the way down to the event space. There were three rooms on display. The first was a basic, traditional banquet style room with round tables. The middle room was a nicely designed reception/lounge area where we got to enjoy some great food. There was a Korean BBQ inspired soft taco station, another open bar featuring Moet-Hennessy sponsored liquors and champagne cocktails, another station featuring scallops and beef tenderloin, and a lady inside some kind of awkward, moving table that was serving coconut ice cream and brownies. Finally, there was the main reception room that again featured four table designs and the best band we heard all night. So overall, pretty good, but not in the same league as the Ritz-Carlton.
Willard Intercontinental
The Willard Intercontinental had most of the action down the main hallway leading from the hotel lobby, which is where many of the vendors and reception items were located.
No amazing treats to report here, but we did miss out on the cider champagne cocktail. There were two decorated rooms. The first was an extremely elaborate ceremonial room that featured a harpist.
The other room was the reception room, which featured a band on stage on each side that alternated playing sets of songs, which was a pretty interesting idea. There was also a large bar in the room and tables around the room decorated in different styles and colors.
Overall, we had a nice time at the Intercontinental and they did a great job with the rooms.
Hay Adams
The Hay Adams is a grand hotel that speaks historical Washington D.C. culture. This hotel was lacking in the display performance compared to the other hotels, only featuring an area of the lobby with vendors and a champagne bar and a single reception room on the main floor, but honestly it didn't matter. There is a terrace on the 8th floor that is available for hosting events and it happens to have what is probably the most amazing view in the city. The view overlooks the rear of the White House and Lafayette Park, and is also high enough to see the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and over into Virginia. We were fortunate enough to have our picture taken by a photographer with the background you see in the picture below. We were really lucky to see this space and the view because it's not somewhere you can visit casually. You must attend as part of a planned event for security purposes.
St. Regis
Our last stop was the St. Regis, which is a block down from the Hay Adams. Of course, we found this out after we got on the shuttle and rode in a circle just to end up almost where we started. The St. Regis is another historical Washington-styled hotel, but it combines a nice mix of modern design. After seeing 4 hotels, we weren't expecting to see much else, but we were pleasantly surprised. The lobby featured a very nice, modern design that complimented the older features in the hotel. We went through an area that featured banquet-style tables and then moved into the reception area, which was really nice. Our camera battery died at this point, so unfortunately you have to enjoy fuzzy pictures from my Blackberry.
Overall, the St. Regis did a really good job, especially with the reception room and it was a nice end to the night. We actually headed back to the Ritz-Carlton to enjoy the rest of the night there since we had so much fun. This was a great event and for anyone who has the opportunity to attend this or anything like, don't miss out on a chance to see some really great luxury hotels! I guess I should give a recommendation on which I would stay at first. Based on the feeling I got from the lobby, event spaces, and website, I think my personal style would lead me to......the Four Seasons!
More to come soon so check back!
.sb06
Sorry it's been a while, life has been hectic! But anyway, I have a great experience to share with you so hopefully the wait has been worth it. Last Sunday, my fiance and I attended the first annual Engaged! in Washington event. This event featured tours of 5 of the best grand luxury hotels in D.C. as they were set up for an actual wedding. The 5 hotels we visited were the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Willard Intercontinental, Hay Adams, and St. Regis, all of which are located in the downtown D.C. area. It was AWESOME!!! Here's the scoop on each the hotels:
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, by far, had the best set-up and experience. We started here, and it was a great start to the evening. We were welcomed by the staff, picked up our registration materials and free gift bags and made our way down the candle lined stairs as a group of violinists played. At the bottom of the stairs, a group of models were showing off their wedding gowns. We proceeded through an arched walkway, talked to some vendors, and entered the large banquet hall where the action really was. The hall was separated by curtains to segment the different phases of a wedding. First, the ceremony area featured a modern set-up, with benches for seating as opposed to chairs.
The next section was the reception area, which featured food stations, dessert tables, an open bar, and more vendors. There was also splits of Moet champagne everywhere, to which the bartender thankfully suggested adding Grand Marnier. For those new to the idea of champagne cocktails, be sure to check it out the next time you have the chance. They also had some delicious white chocolate covered brownies..mm mm! Anyway, the final area featured a set of banquet tables, each of which was decorated in a different style and color theme and we were asked to vote on which one we liked best. Overall, it was an incredible display and again, we salute the Ritz-Carlton for doing big things!
Four Seasons
The Four Seasons, located in Georgetown, probably had one of the lesser impressive displays, but it was still very nice and the hotel lobby and restaurant looked great on the way down to the event space. There were three rooms on display. The first was a basic, traditional banquet style room with round tables. The middle room was a nicely designed reception/lounge area where we got to enjoy some great food. There was a Korean BBQ inspired soft taco station, another open bar featuring Moet-Hennessy sponsored liquors and champagne cocktails, another station featuring scallops and beef tenderloin, and a lady inside some kind of awkward, moving table that was serving coconut ice cream and brownies. Finally, there was the main reception room that again featured four table designs and the best band we heard all night. So overall, pretty good, but not in the same league as the Ritz-Carlton.
Willard Intercontinental
The Willard Intercontinental had most of the action down the main hallway leading from the hotel lobby, which is where many of the vendors and reception items were located.
No amazing treats to report here, but we did miss out on the cider champagne cocktail. There were two decorated rooms. The first was an extremely elaborate ceremonial room that featured a harpist.
The other room was the reception room, which featured a band on stage on each side that alternated playing sets of songs, which was a pretty interesting idea. There was also a large bar in the room and tables around the room decorated in different styles and colors.
Overall, we had a nice time at the Intercontinental and they did a great job with the rooms.
Hay Adams
The Hay Adams is a grand hotel that speaks historical Washington D.C. culture. This hotel was lacking in the display performance compared to the other hotels, only featuring an area of the lobby with vendors and a champagne bar and a single reception room on the main floor, but honestly it didn't matter. There is a terrace on the 8th floor that is available for hosting events and it happens to have what is probably the most amazing view in the city. The view overlooks the rear of the White House and Lafayette Park, and is also high enough to see the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and over into Virginia. We were fortunate enough to have our picture taken by a photographer with the background you see in the picture below. We were really lucky to see this space and the view because it's not somewhere you can visit casually. You must attend as part of a planned event for security purposes.
St. Regis
Our last stop was the St. Regis, which is a block down from the Hay Adams. Of course, we found this out after we got on the shuttle and rode in a circle just to end up almost where we started. The St. Regis is another historical Washington-styled hotel, but it combines a nice mix of modern design. After seeing 4 hotels, we weren't expecting to see much else, but we were pleasantly surprised. The lobby featured a very nice, modern design that complimented the older features in the hotel. We went through an area that featured banquet-style tables and then moved into the reception area, which was really nice. Our camera battery died at this point, so unfortunately you have to enjoy fuzzy pictures from my Blackberry.
Overall, the St. Regis did a really good job, especially with the reception room and it was a nice end to the night. We actually headed back to the Ritz-Carlton to enjoy the rest of the night there since we had so much fun. This was a great event and for anyone who has the opportunity to attend this or anything like, don't miss out on a chance to see some really great luxury hotels! I guess I should give a recommendation on which I would stay at first. Based on the feeling I got from the lobby, event spaces, and website, I think my personal style would lead me to......the Four Seasons!
More to come soon so check back!
.sb06
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Plan a Trip to a Luxury Hotel of Your Choice -- Luxury Link
Looking to visit a luxury hotel in the near future? If you have flexible travel dates or if you are willing to take a trip on somewhat short notice, check out Luxury Link. The site offers various packages at luxury hotels around the world in two different ways. First, you can participate in an auction for an extra discounted package or you can choose the 'Buy Now' option at a higher price if you're not up for the suspense of waiting to find out if you won the auction. Honestly, the latter option does not appear to cost too much more, so if that's what you feel comfortable with, you're talking a difference of a few hundred dollars, but still at a discounted rate from what you are likely to see on the actual hotel website.
You can search on Luxury Link in a variety of ways, including destination, interests (e.g. beach, golf, spa, etc.), or property type, but I think the best ways to search are the auctions that are closing soon and the best deals categories. Auctions that are closing soon allow you to jump in late in the game and have a better idea of whether or not you might get the reservation. You also don't have to wait for days and possibly weeks to finalize your vacation. Obviously the best deals section is something you want to check out because you could find a real steal, but these are likely to be pretty popular for auctions. The Buy Now option could be a pretty good choice for these items, but you can always play the auction and see if you can get under the Buy Now price. If you're flexible, then you won't ruin your plans by taking a chance with the auction.
Finally, if you like a little suspense and you're more of the free spirit type, there are also mystery auctions where you can bid for a stay at a luxury hotel at a given destination. These auctions have a lot of potential because the bids appear to be pretty low, and they do post clues as to where the destination is as the auction proceeds so it's not a total risk. If anyone out there has won a mystery option on Luxury Link, please share!
If you're skeptical and are wondering how they can offer these deals, there are constraints on the dates of travel, which are probably limited to off-peak times. However, if you're really interested in the hotel like I am and all it has to offer, this seems like a better time to go anyway. Also, there is a $40 handling fee that I guess is the price you pay for the site managing the auction. In the end, you should probably still come out way on top compared to the retail prices, but you should definitely do your pricing research before you throw out a bid. This site was rated one of the best travel websites by Travel and Leisure, so it's probably been vetted pretty thoroughly if you're wondering about being scammed. I plan on using Luxury Link for one of my next trips so I'll let you all know how it goes. Also, for those more family oriented travelers out there, Luxury Link has a partner site called Family Getaway that offers the same opportunities for more family friendly places.
More tips, resources, and hotels coming soon as well as my first Hotel Hopper review. Check back soon.
.sb06
You can search on Luxury Link in a variety of ways, including destination, interests (e.g. beach, golf, spa, etc.), or property type, but I think the best ways to search are the auctions that are closing soon and the best deals categories. Auctions that are closing soon allow you to jump in late in the game and have a better idea of whether or not you might get the reservation. You also don't have to wait for days and possibly weeks to finalize your vacation. Obviously the best deals section is something you want to check out because you could find a real steal, but these are likely to be pretty popular for auctions. The Buy Now option could be a pretty good choice for these items, but you can always play the auction and see if you can get under the Buy Now price. If you're flexible, then you won't ruin your plans by taking a chance with the auction.
Finally, if you like a little suspense and you're more of the free spirit type, there are also mystery auctions where you can bid for a stay at a luxury hotel at a given destination. These auctions have a lot of potential because the bids appear to be pretty low, and they do post clues as to where the destination is as the auction proceeds so it's not a total risk. If anyone out there has won a mystery option on Luxury Link, please share!
If you're skeptical and are wondering how they can offer these deals, there are constraints on the dates of travel, which are probably limited to off-peak times. However, if you're really interested in the hotel like I am and all it has to offer, this seems like a better time to go anyway. Also, there is a $40 handling fee that I guess is the price you pay for the site managing the auction. In the end, you should probably still come out way on top compared to the retail prices, but you should definitely do your pricing research before you throw out a bid. This site was rated one of the best travel websites by Travel and Leisure, so it's probably been vetted pretty thoroughly if you're wondering about being scammed. I plan on using Luxury Link for one of my next trips so I'll let you all know how it goes. Also, for those more family oriented travelers out there, Luxury Link has a partner site called Family Getaway that offers the same opportunities for more family friendly places.
More tips, resources, and hotels coming soon as well as my first Hotel Hopper review. Check back soon.
.sb06
Monday, March 8, 2010
Oyster and Raveable -- New items added to the Hotel Resources List
More additions!
I've just added two more resources to the link list at the bottom of the page. I thought about adding a separate list for hotel reviewing sites, but figured most of you were already well aware of the Kayak, Expedia, etc. type of sites so I figured I wouldn't crowd the page with commonly known resources. I also didn't want to add too many review sites because they can be cumbersome to browse through and incredibly subjective. I suppose my reviews will be subjective as well, but for the most part, the design is the primary focus, and nice features are pretty much nice features no matter how you look at it.
The two new sites I just added are Oyster and Raveable, which provide hundreds of reviews of hotels good and bad. Both sites focus exclusively on hotels, versus more travel oriented sites that discuss hotels as just a part of the total travel package. In addition to being able to search for hotels and reviews, both sites feature extensive listings of the best hotels by city as well as categories, themes, and features. Oyster also features very extensive photo galleries for the hotels on the site, which is very helpful for getting a good feeling about the hotel. Raveable also features a blog list of the best travel blogs out there on the web.
Reviews on both sites are very thorough, although Oyster claims to post professional, unbiased reviews versus Raveable, which pulls reviews from real customers primarily through TripAdvisor and MyTravelGuide. I think both types of reviews can be useful, but it depends on which you trust more. Both sites also allow viewers to check rates and availability for the hotel you are checking out...just some added convenience so you don't have to bounce around between multiple sites. The only downside to the sites is that they are basically limited to US and nearby destinations at this time, so you world travelers out there will have to wait until they extend their coverage.
Until next time!
.sb06
I've just added two more resources to the link list at the bottom of the page. I thought about adding a separate list for hotel reviewing sites, but figured most of you were already well aware of the Kayak, Expedia, etc. type of sites so I figured I wouldn't crowd the page with commonly known resources. I also didn't want to add too many review sites because they can be cumbersome to browse through and incredibly subjective. I suppose my reviews will be subjective as well, but for the most part, the design is the primary focus, and nice features are pretty much nice features no matter how you look at it.
The two new sites I just added are Oyster and Raveable, which provide hundreds of reviews of hotels good and bad. Both sites focus exclusively on hotels, versus more travel oriented sites that discuss hotels as just a part of the total travel package. In addition to being able to search for hotels and reviews, both sites feature extensive listings of the best hotels by city as well as categories, themes, and features. Oyster also features very extensive photo galleries for the hotels on the site, which is very helpful for getting a good feeling about the hotel. Raveable also features a blog list of the best travel blogs out there on the web.
Reviews on both sites are very thorough, although Oyster claims to post professional, unbiased reviews versus Raveable, which pulls reviews from real customers primarily through TripAdvisor and MyTravelGuide. I think both types of reviews can be useful, but it depends on which you trust more. Both sites also allow viewers to check rates and availability for the hotel you are checking out...just some added convenience so you don't have to bounce around between multiple sites. The only downside to the sites is that they are basically limited to US and nearby destinations at this time, so you world travelers out there will have to wait until they extend their coverage.
Until next time!
.sb06
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
New Luxury Hotel Openings for 2010
Another interesting article I just happened to come across....lots of new places to check out!
.sb06
.sb06
Purchase a Piece of Luxury from Your Favorite Hotels
An interesting article a friend of mine sent me (thanks K!), check it out and let me know what you think! Personally, I wouldn't want to mix and match from everywhere, but hey, to each his own :p
.sb06
.sb06
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Welcome to Hotel Hopper!
Hey everyone, welcome to my new Hotel Hopper blog! I encourage you to browse through all of the content on the different pages. I am NOT a professional in the hotel industry, but just a consumer who appreciates quality products and wants to create a personal and realistic online community about exceptional hotels. The site will feature all types of hotels, ranging from luxury hotels, boutiques, spa hotels, and resorts. The home page will feature most of the site content, which is likely to feature articles, reviews, polls, surveys, feeds, and other relevant material. I will create posts about new or interesting hotels to visit someday that I have discovered through the internet, magazines, other types of media, or by word of mouth. The Your Hotel Hops page allows you to create posts on the exceptional places you have stayed during your travels. These posts will be reviewed so that the common theme of the site is preserved, but I will try to be as liberal as possible so you can share your experiences with others. The Luxury Hotel Rating Criteria presents the methodology I plan on using to review luxury hotels that I visit. This page can also serve as a template should you want to share your experiences on the Your Hotel Hops page. The Gallery page will features interesting pics of hotels that I find during my searches that may not be featured in a post. Finally, feel free to leave comments on the Feedback page. I hope you enjoy and check back often for new content!
.sb06
.sb06
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