Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Traveling soon? These are some of the places my family and I have stayed. Some were amazing, while others were just meh. If you’ve got a recommendation for me, be sure to leave a comment and let me know. (Click on the photo or the title to read my reviews. Enjoy!)
The Angad Arts Hotel is one of the more unique properties I’ve stayed at. Located in a vibrant theatre and arts district, it’s equal parts art gallery and trendy hotel. It’s also the first hotel of its kind where guests select their rooms not just by the number of beds they’ll need, but by the color and emotion they want to feel during their stay. No, for real!
Location. Location. Location! One of the reasons I wanted to stay at the Le Méridien Clayton was because it was so close to all the things I wanted to see.
This was our first hotel stay during the COVID-19 pandemic and we were a bit nervous. However, the hotel wasn’t overbooked, everyone social distanced and wore masks, and we felt safe. But me being me, I did bring my own disinfectant wipes to clean the surfaces (doorknobs, remote controls etc.) … just in case.
The Lotte Hotel Busan is a 15-minute cab ride from the train terminal. We drove past the famous Haeundae Beach, where they were setting up for some of the Busan International Film Festival events. It was too cold to go swimming when we were there, but it’s a gorgeous spot to take a walk.
The W hotels are always stylish and this one in Seattle is no exception. The design is sleek and not fussy. The rooms are nicely sized, clean and well laid out. I usually don’t care for the bath products at most hotels, but the Bliss foaming face wash and shampoo are fantastic!
Located near Bourbon Street and Jackson Square, the W New Orleans is located in a great area that made it easy to walk to restaurants, music venues and sites.
A Krispy Kreme donut and Elvis Presley dancing. If you can think of a better way to wake up in Memphis, do let me know! It felt really special visiting Graceland and staying overnight at the Guest House at Graceland. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was so excited to be there, that I selfied my way through the visit. I don’t need to share those photos publicly though.
When you’re traveling overseas and don’t want to rent a car, being in a central location is key. That’s one reason my husband and I opted for the Regent Singapore, a Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a close walk to all the shopping on Orchard Road (comparable to Beverly Hills) and just a few minutes from the gorgeous Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
I know that it’s cool to say that you don’t like to visit tourist traps. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I enjoy tourist traps, which is why when we took my mother on her first trip to Hawaii, we went to Honolulu. And when you’re traveling with a little kid to Seattle, it’s fun to re-visit attractions like the Space Needle through their eyes.