Spotlight: Race and Religious

February 8, 2012 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Unusual lodging, Vacation Rental Tags: New Orleans vacation rental, Race and Religious, wedding location New Orleans 1 Comment

With Mardi Gras parades going on in earnest this week and Fat Tuesday on the 21st, it seemed like a good time to look at one of the most unique places to stay in New Orleans. Few other cities have the power to make you feel like you’re walking through the past like New Orleans does. This city has a kind of magic that makes it seem like the past and present are existing all at once. Maybe it’s the unusual, and obviously aged, architecture or maybe it’s the existence of old traditions that make it feel like history is poking itself into your modern life. Whatever it is, if you stay at Race and Religious the past will be all around you. More of a vacation rental than anything else, this group of three buildings, including an old slave quarters, joined by the corner of Race and Religious streets date from 1836 and 1843. They have been lovingly restored over the past 30 years by owner Granville Semmes . If you want to learn about the fascinating history of these buildings I recommend reading this. Otherwise, I just recommend taking a group of friends or family and stay here.

photos courtesy of Race and Religious

Storm Watching on the Oregon Coast

January 30, 2012 By Morgan in Hotels, travel, Winter Travel Tags: Oregon coast Hotel, Oregon coast vacation rental, storm watching Oregon 2 Comments

photo by Justin Larson

Ask most Portlanders when the best time to go to the Oregon coast is and they will almost always say something like “February”. You will be confused and stare at them blankly until they explain that it’s too crowded in the Summer, there are great deals to be had in the year’s shortest (and often dreariest) month and there’s storm watching. Storms are something most people do not look forward to in Winter, but in Oregon sitting around in a beach house or hotel room with a view of the oncoming gale while sipping on some hot tea or wine and playing cards is a highly anticipated activity. While there’s often rain in the cities of Oregon, it’s not usually very dramatic. It gets wet and that’s about it. So to see water-churning, rain-spitting and windy stuff you have to go to the coast. Plus, the best beach-combing happens after storms, especially if you really like kelp. Here’s some great places to stay while watching the action, although I should mention that it’s best to stay indoors. Those waves are fun to watch but they don’t care that you’re on vacation and will suck you out into the ocean anyway.

The Ocean Lodge, Cannon Beach

Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast, Yachats

Salishan Spa and Golf Resort, Lincoln City

Gearhart Ocean Inn, Gearhart

Vacation Home Rental, Seaside

Coast Cabins, Manzanita

Cannery Pier Hotel, Astoria

Yotel

January 26, 2012 By Morgan in Europe, Hotels, travel, Unusual lodging Tags: new york city hotel, unique airport hotel, yotel 2 Comments

NYC Entrance

The first Yotel opened in 2007 at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Inspired by the first class cabins on British Airways international flights and austere Japanese designs, these hotels are made for frequent flyers. The airport hotels are currently in terminals at Gatwick, Heathrow and Amsterdam’s Schiphol. There is a four hour minimum rental for those with a layover and in need of a nap and shower, but full night rentals are available too. The newly opened New York City hotel, just two blocks from Times Square, is for those actually on vacation. The airport Yotel is a no frills operation with automatic check in kiosks and a “Galley” on every floor offering basics like coffee and fridge space. The New York hotel is a bit more traditional with a bar and restaurant, but without the usual room frills like coffee makers, you can actually stay in Manhattan with a private terrace and hot tub for a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere.

Airport Premium Cabin Corridor

Airport Premium Cabin

NYC Premium Cabin

NYC Corner Cabin

NYC VIP Suite

NYC Bar

NYC Terrace

Scotland in Winter

January 23, 2012 By Morgan in Hotels, travel, Vacation Rental, Wanderlust, Winter Travel Tags: Hotels in Scotland, Scotland in Winter, Scotland Travel, Self-catering scotland, Vacation Rental Scotland, Winter in Scotland 1 Comment

I took a trip to Scotland almost two years ago and can’t wait to go back. We visited during the Summer and were very lucky with warm and sunny weather the whole time, but something tells me that to truly experience Scotland one needs to see it in Winter in what I can only assume is its more natural state, meteorologically speaking. If I were to go now, I’d retreat to one of these locations with a deck of cards and some local whisky.

Galbegno Castle, Fettercairn

A six bedroom self-catering lodge located 45 minutes south of Aberdeen.

photos courtesy of Balbegno Castle

The Torridon, Highlands

A 19 bedroom luxury hotel located on 58 acres next to a loch. Not only do they offer guided Winter hikes into the nearby hills (and list a flask as part of your required equipment), but they have a Whisky bar offering tastings and over 350 whiskies to choose from. They run an inn close by if you’re looking for slightly more modest accommodations.

photos courtesy of the Torridon

Cameron House, Loch Lomond

The perfect family getaway. Not only are there amazing views, multiple restaurants, stylish bars, a spa and pools but three different “clubs” for kids divided by ages. Your littles ones can also go on guided hikes and bird watching excursions with their own Countryside Ranger. Oh, and there’s bunk beds in the family rooms. Everyone is now happy.

Dalhousie Castle, Near Edinburgh

This is the place to go if you have an interest in falconry and/or medieval fortresses, which this castle once was. You can take short falconry classes or sign up for the 5 day intensive course and there’s even classes for kids with owls. Of course there’s a spa, but there’s also a restaurant in the former dungeons.

photos courtesy of Dalhousie Castle

Beach Bay Cottage, Isle of Lewis

A romantic and private self-catering cottage in the outer Hebrides that was inspired by traditional black houses of the islands. While secluded enough for a cozy getaway, it’s also only 3 miles from the village and a few hundred yards from a restaurant.

photos courtesy of Beach Bay Cottage

Hobbit House of Montana

January 19, 2012 By Morgan in travel, Unusual lodging, Vacation Rental, Wanderlust Tags: Hobbit, Hobbit House of Montana, Montana vacation rental 2 Comments

I don’t know anyone who isn’t at least a little bit charmed by the Hobbits of Tolkien’s books and with the new Hobbit movie coming soon (sort of) I imagine that Hobbit fever will only increase. Best you reserve your stay at the Hobbit House soon or you may have to build your own. If you, like me, are not that industrious then this is the place to go. Located in the foothills of the Cabinet Mountains it’s a great getaway, especially with children. Fall is likely the best season to visit as this is also Montana’s huckleberry epicenter. And I imagine that Hobbits love huckleberries.

The Shire

Main House

Bilbo's House in Winter

All photos curtesy of Hobbit House of Montana

The Saguaro

January 11, 2012 By Morgan in Hotels, travel, Winter Travel Tags: Saguaro Hotel Scottsdale, Scottsdale hotel, Sonoran desert hotel 1 Comment

While it’s been a relatively moderate Winter so far, that doesn’t mean that most people aren’t craving a little bit of warm sunshine about right now. Unless you’ve been planning a mid-Winter vacation for awhile, a trip to Hawaii or a Caribbean island is probably not in order. But maybe a trip to Scottsdale? Not usually on my top ten list but the newly opened Saguaro hotel may just change my mind. Inspired by the Sonoran desert and contemporary Mexican architecture, it’s like a splash of cold water in the face of all of us living under the gray skies of Winter. There is also a full service spa, two pools complete with cabanas, The Old Town Whiskey Bar, and the hotel’s signature restaurant Distrito.

Parisian Vacation Apartments

January 4, 2012 By Morgan in Europe, travel, Vacation Rental Tags: Paris apartment rental, Paris Vacation, Paris vacation rental 1 Comment

I’ve recently been planning a two week vacation to France for 5 people, including a child. The family is spending one week in Paris and after a brief discussion of hotels it became clear that an apartment rental is really the way to go. This is true for many places, but in Paris which can be notoriously expensive, renting an apartment can end up saving you money. And when families are traveling together, it’s a good idea to have a bit of space for everyone to move around and have a bit of privacy. Many apartment rentals do have a minimum stay requirement, especially during the high season, so read the fine print carefully. Now that I’ve looked at just about every apartment in Paris with a photo online, I can say that there’s an astonishing variety of options. There are many budget apartments and some truly luxurious spaces complete with full time butlers. I’ve chosen a few of my favorites, a couple from that elusive in-between category of apartments that are a step (or three) above the average but don’t cost an arm and a leg and then of course a couple that are probably a fantasy but too beautiful to omit. If you are splitting the cost between two or three couples though, even the more costly ones can be a bargain compared to hotel rooms. Of course there’s no lobby bar, but you might just have to make do with a private balcony instead.

Canal Bohemia, 1oth Arrondissement. $625/week

Petit Pont, 5th Arrondissement. $2390/week

Our Home In Paris, 4th Arrondissement. $3250/week

Peony, 4th Arrondissement. $5250/week

Marais Penthouse, 3rd Arrondissement. $6000/week

George V Suite, 8th Arrondissement. $9000/week

Palais Royal, 1er Arrondissement. $10,000/week

Trailer Sleeps

December 22, 2011 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: Airstream, Grand Daddy Cape Town, Hicksville, Shady Dell, Trailer Hotels, Vickers Gypsy Caravan Leave a comment

I should have seen this coming years ago when everyone started buying old Airstreams and revamping them into snazzy, modern campers and food carts. The trailer hotel could not be far behind.

Hicksville Trailer Palace, Joshua Tree CA

Imagined as an artist retreat in the desert of Southern California, this delightful hodgepodge of trailers opened in April 2010. In addition to your trailer (there’s 8 to choose from), there is also a saltwater pool, fire pit, horseshoes, archery range, rooftop hot tub, recording studio, and of course stunning views.

Shady Dell, Bisbee AZ

Fans of mid-century design and furnishings will relish this collection of 9 restored aluminum trailers, one vintage bus and a 50s era yacht. The Shady Dell originally opened in 1927 as a spot for tired travelers cruising Hwy. 80, which ran from Savannah, Georgia to San Diego, California. You can still hook up your RV here, but you no longer need to bring your own trailer. There’s also a 50’s style cafe called Dots so you don’t even need to dirty the vintage kitchens.

The Grand Daddy, Cape Town, South Africa

The Grand Daddy hotel has take the Shady Dell American kitsch and refined it into something still nostalgic, but totally hip. Located on the roof of the more traditional hotel, the Airstreams have been re-designed by local creatives and boast themes like Afro-Funk, Love of Lace and Pleasantville. Luckily for guests, there’s a bar on the roof as well so no need to operate the elevator after roof top cocktails.

Blaengors Airstream, West Wales Coast

Airstreams for rent also come solo, for those who aren’t interested in the party atmosphere of the trailer park hotels. This one is located between Aberaeron and Lampeter on the West coast of Wales in a private meadow. Built in 1964 and totally redone it’s quite a nice way to play at traveling gypsy for a weekend.

Photos by Chris Tannock

Vickers Romany Caravan, Shropshire, England

The British built Vickers Caravans were made from the 50’s through 70’s for the gypsy market. Larger than Airstreams, these were meant to be the main home for gypsy families living a traditional life in Britain. This is some serious luxury camping, but don’t worry that it’s gotten too highbrow. There’s still a rowboat and a lake nearby so you don’t spend too much time indoors, even though you’ll want to.

Santa’s Igloo Village: Hotel Kakslauttanen

December 15, 2011 By Morgan in Hotels, travel, Winter Travel Tags: Hotel Kakslauttanen, Lapland vacation, reindeer, Santa's home, unusual winter resort, visiting Santa 1 Comment

Whether you believe in Santa or are just planning a vacation with someone who does, this is the place you need to go. I can think of no other resort that can lay claim so realistically to being Santa’s true home than the Winter Wonderland that exists at this spot in Lapland. This part of Finland, above the Artic Circle is home to the indigenous Sami people who have herded reindeer for centuries, and whose native dress could inspire the fashion of many an elf in Santa’s service. They have recently opened glass igloos in addition to the snow igloos and log cabins that have been available at Santa’s resort. These are open from December through April and offer an unparalleled view of the Northern Lights. Activities include an elf-guided tour of Santa’s home, reindeer herd and gold creek where his Gold Elves pan for gold, which explains the mystery of Santa’s income. There are more traditional Winter activities like sleigh rides, snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing, snowboarding and dog sledding. For the brave souls there’s also ice swimming which, yes, means swimming under the ice. In a regular swimsuit. Thankfully, there are traditional smoke saunas, restaurants and lots of blankets too. Hard to think of a more appropriate Christmas vacation.

Alpine Ski Hotels

December 8, 2011 By Morgan in Hotels, inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: France, Italy, Ski vacation, Switzerland Leave a comment

I am not, nor have I ever been a skier, snowboarder or snowshoer. I hear they are all very lovely ways to spend one’s free time and I imagine that that’s true. However, when I’m faced with the prospect of many hours spent on a snow-covered mountain the only thing that sounds fun to me is a roaring fire and a warm cocktail. Perhaps a deck of cards. Maybe you are like me and are often vacationing with snow-lovers who only come off the mountain to sleep. If you’re thinking of going to the Alps with that lot, don’t worry, there are plenty of hotels to make all of you happy and stylishly so.

L’Alpaga, Megeve, France