Hotels and More

The Beehive, A Home Away From Home in Rome

June 5, 2012
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Two years ago, I read about a charming little budget hotel in Rome called the Beehive on a hotel review site called DarnGoodDigs.com. I knew that when I finally visited Rome, that is where I would stay. Fast-forward to 2012, and I booked three nights at the Beehive in May to bookend my cruise. Shortly [...]

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Staying at the Walt Disney World Swan

February 29, 2012

During my first two trips to Walt Disney World, I became convinced that the ideal place to stay would be at one of the Boardwalk hotels, because of how close they are to my favorite park—Epcot–and how many dining and activity options are available there. I decided the Swan or Dolphin would be best for [...]

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Hotel Review: The Manchester Grand Hyatt

November 16, 2011

In 48 Hours in San Diego, I mentioned that the smartest thing I did in San Diego was to stay at a centrally-located hotel near the waterfront and the Gaslamp Quarter, which made getting around to the tourist locations I wanted to see much easier. Better yet, I was hosted by The Manchester Grand Hyatt, [...]

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Hotel Review: Hostal Goya

August 17, 2011

Hostel, hostal. . .is that a little like to-mayto and to-mahto? As it turns out, no. My trip to Barcelona was the first time I’ve ever stayed in a hostal. Besides the fact that it’s spelled with an “a” instead of an “e,” what’s the difference between a hostel and a hostal, you ask? Great [...]

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Hotel Europa: Hotel at the Gate of the Sun

July 19, 2011

Located at the heart of Madrid, on Puerta del Sol (“Gate of the Sun”), Hotel Europa is an excellent base of operations for your stay in the city. While the service and quality are fine, what makes this hotel a gem is its location: Many tourist sites are within walking distance, and for those that [...]

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How Couchsurfing Helped Me Adjust to Life in France

March 29, 2011

One challenge for many solo travelers is finding their way around a strange country alone. What if you could arrange to meet up with a friendly local who could advise you on what to do and where to go? Today, guest blogger Brenna Mulvaney shows us how she’s done just that with Couchsurfing, a site [...]

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Hotel Says “Pay What You Want”

January 18, 2011

A “Pay What You Want” Rate?  For REAL???  Yes, for real.  One of my contacts at WIHP – Explorotel told me that Hotel Abruzzi in Rome is the first of possibly other hotels experimenting with a promotion rate in which you, the guest, can pay what you feel is a fair price for your room [...]

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Review: Hotel le Tourville

January 7, 2011

For a hotel that boasts such a comfortable lounge/sitting area off the lobby, I never actually saw anyone enjoying it.  No doubt they were too busy exploring Paris. . .which is quite easy to do, as it’s right outside your door. In one direction, it is an easy walk to the Champs de Mars, the [...]

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Hotel de la Porte Doree: Just Right

December 14, 2010

You know the story of Goldilocks and the three bears? How Goldilocks wandered into the bears’ home one day, tasting all their porridge and sleeping in their beds, and even though she tried all three sizes, there was one that was “just right” for her?  Well I felt that way about the three hotels I [...]

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