The Hotel Valley Ho claims it was in Downtown Scottsdale before there was even a Downtown Scottsdale, and we think they’re right. The hotel first opened its doors in 1956, and has been meticulously restored with its mid-century past in mind. Fully renovated in 2005, The Hotel Valley Ho is a creative flashback to the 50’s, and offers a nice alternative to the more traditional Scottsdale resort/hotel experience.

On our last trip to Scottsdale, we had an opportunity to tour the property, and we were pretty satisfied with the finished product. Since the renovation, the property has matured nicely.

The Hotel Valley Ho offers a wide variety of guest room options, including condo-like digs in the “Tower”, Cabana Rooms, Standard Rooms, Studios and Suites. Rooms are anything but boring, and feature very bright colors, reminiscent of the 1950’s of course. We were impressed with how far Hotel Valley Ho actually took their renovation. Most properties you see from this era are tired, even post renovation. Hotel Valley Ho upgraded the bathrooms quite nicely to include a nice large space equipped with separate showers and bathtubs.

Signature King Room (Std. Room) w/ 1 King Bed  (Room 1217)

If you’re looking to be a little more adventurous with your accommodation choices, give the ‘Studio King’ room a try.  These rooms are slightly larger than the Signature King Rooms, and feature an ‘Open Bathroom’ design.  You and your significant other can take a bath right in the middle of the room!

Cabana King Room  (Room 6103)

Whether you’re attending one of the many conferences that take place at The Valley Ho, spending some quality time with the family, or just doing a little R&R, The Hotel Valley Ho is a departure from your typical Scottsdale Resort, and one that you’ll likely have a little fun with in the process.  Be sure to check out the on-property Trader Vic’s Bar & Restaurant too.

It won’t be long before we bring you TripKick.com Reviews of over 20 new Hotels & Resorts in Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona.  Until then, we wanted to give you a glimpse at the new Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, the first new hotel to be built in the Downtown Area in over 30 years!

The Sheraton Phoenix showcases some of Sheraton’s newest looks, including an entirely new guest room experience, an efficient Lobby Space, and a new design theme that we think most guests will appreciate.

Traditional Room, 1 King Bed  (Room 1811)

Minibar Area  (Room 1811)

The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown was primarily built with Convention/Business travelers in mind, but the guest rooms are tastefully designed, and perhaps among the best we’ve seen at a Sheraton.  You will find that rooms are decorated in warm tones that reflect a Desert theme, and are so much better than what you’ll find at The Hyatt Regency Phoenix (Sorry Hyatt, but it’s really time for a renovation)

One Bedroom Suite w/ Separate Living Room & Bedroom, 1 King Bed (Room 3109)

Traditional Room, 2 Double Beds (Room 1812)

If your travel plans call for Downtown Phoenix, The Sheraton is a no-brainer, really.

InterContinental Chicago O’Hare, Reception Desk

Main Entrance

We’ve all experienced Airport Hotels, usually in consequence to a canceled or missed flight. Generally mediocre at best, we expect something clean and efficient, but nothing more.

On a recent trip to Chicago however, we were stunned by the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare. You might wanna miss your flight for this one. Yes, the hotel’s about five minutes from Chicago O’Hare’s main terminal, but this property is anything but your typical airport hotel. We were met by an overwhelmingly gracious staff (and this was late in the evening) and a lobby that puts most New York City hotels to shame!

The InterContinental Chicago O’Hare has an Impressive Contemporary Art Collection in The Lobby

The InterContinental Chicago O’Hare could easily compete with some of the top hotels in any major city across North America. Guest rooms also share a modern design, with contemporary inspiration, and digs that are on par with other four and five star hotels we’ve seen in Chicago. There are several room types from which to choose, including Standard Rooms, Junior Suites, One-Bedroom Suites as well as a handful of Specialty Suites including a Governor’s Suite and Presidential Suite.

Room Number 1129, One-Bedroom Suite

Room Number 1129, One-Bedroom Suite, Main Bathroom, Separate Shower/Tub Note: Standard Rooms Have Similar Bathroom Setup, With Glass Shower Only

Room Number 1129, Living Room & Second 1/2 Bath

Room 1129, View

Regardless of your room type, expect to be pampered with luxurious products and a bath experience that everyone’s looking for. A Glass shower with a Rainforest Shower Head was definitely a nice touch.

In addition to what’s already available to guests (An Extensive Art Collection, Club Lounge, Impressive Fitness Center, Lobby Bar) there are a few other services that are in the works including an adjacent Capital Grill Restaurant and an On Property Theater.

Adjacent Capital Grill Restaurant, Almost Finished

Even if your hotel occasion doesn’t call for an airport visit, The InterContinental O’Hare is also just minutes from several Rosemont Area happenings, and only a 30-40 minute drive from Downtown Chicago.

Montelucia Resort & Spa, Lobby

Resort Grounds

The Montelucia Resort & Spa (formerly the La Posada Resort) has been recently remastered and is now managed and owned by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. On our most recently visit to the Scottsdale area, we were quite excited about seeing the finished product. We were in awe over the attention to detail, from the imported Spanish Entry Doors to the on property Chapel, to the main Lobby Area. Clearly, InterContinental has gone to great lengths to restore the former La Posada, apparently to the tune of $250 million!

Although built on the former site of the La Posada, the Montelucia is essentially brand new. Some original guest room buildings were kept, however completely overhauled, so much so that most won’t discern any differences from the new. Perhaps the only noticeable difference in these buildings are the exteriors, which still sport an older stucco style.

The Montelucia offers a guest room experience that competes well with its 5 Star caliber neighbors. Guest rooms reflect the Spanish style of the resort, and feature luxurious oversized bathrooms, most with separate showers and bathtubs. Depending on your location, views often include the surround Desert landscape of one of several pools on property.

Standard Guest Room

Standard Guest Room Bathroom, Separate Shower & Bathtub

Guest Room Balcony & Desert/Pool View

The Montelucia is ideal for families or couples looking for a Desert Getaway, and one that now boasts some of the very best Scottsdale Area accommodations.

Montelucia Main Pool Area

Well, as promised, TripKick.com will soon be bringing you Phoenix & Scottsdale as new destinations. We had an opportunity to stay at the W Scottsdale this past weekend, and as expected, this property was Wonderful. As many of our travelers know, the W Brand is always clever, and rarely disappoints those seeking utmost style and comfort. Having seen every W Hotel in North America, Scottsdale is definitely at the top of the list.

We especially appreciate this property’s ability to blend in with its surrounding, from the Lobby to the Guest Rooms, you know you’re in the Desert, a very hip Desert of course. Perhaps W Scottsdale’s biggest attraction is its Rooftop Pool Scene. We’ve seen our fair share of Rooftop Pools, but this one offers sophistication while also being practical. So often you seen Rooftop Pools that barely leave room for more than 100 people, but the W Scottsdale has cleverly designed this space to allow for Beach Cabanas, 3 Bars, Sweat (W’s Fitness Center) and a Zen Rooftop Garden. Weekend evenings are quite the scene at the W Scottsdale Rooftop, so arrive early- or just be an in-house guest for preferred access.

Of all the W’s we’ve seen, the guest rooms at the W Scottsdale are at the top of our list. An enormous amount of thought was put into the overall design of these rooms, as you’ll see by the “Open Floor Plan” layout. Bathrooms in the Wonderful, Spectacular and Fabulous categories all feature an Open Bathroom (which can be closed off with a sliding door) with a freestanding frosted glass shower, and vanity area that is finished with desert stone to remind you of your surroundings. All rooms include the W Signature Beds (which are among the best you’ll find in any hotel, and we’ve seen them all) along with the W Munchie Box, functional working desk, and a nice view of the Desert, Rooftop Pool or Zen Garden. The W Scottsdale also features a variety of Suites, some of which offer front row views of the Rooftop Bar (ideal for watching the weekend nightlife action.)

Room Number 519, Wonderful Category, Bedroom, Bathroom, Sitting Area

Room Number 509, Wonderful Category Room, Shower, Munchie Box

Room Number 301, Cool Corner Suite with Rooftop/Beach Area View

Room Number 249, Spa Suite, Upgraded Bathrooms w/ Soaking Tub, Walk out Patio to Zen Garden/Rooftop

The W Scottsdale is a nice hybrid of hotel & resort and offers guests the best of both worlds. You can walk to almost everything in Old Town Scottsdale, yet relax endlessly while laying poolside or enjoying one of the many Spa treatments available at Bliss Spa. In either case, you’ll likely be Wowed by the W Scottsdale.

1. True or False: There are more non-stop flights to Dallas from more U.S. cities than to any other airport in the world.

Answer: True.

a

2. Which famous convenience store opened its first store in Dallas?

A.   Circle K

B.   7 Eleven

C.   AM / PM

Answer: B. 7-Eleven opened its first store in Dallas in 1922

a

3. In 1927 what major invention made its U.S. debut in Dallas?

A.   Household Telephones

B.   Public Flush Toilets

C.   Automatic Traffic Lights

Answer: C.

a

4. Which famous alcoholic beverage was invented in Dallas?

A.   Screw-Driver

B.   Margarita

C.   White Russian

D.   Whiskey Sour

Answer: B.

a

5. Which Two famous Airlines are Headquartered in Dallas?

A.   American Airlines

B.   Continental Airlines

C.   United

D.   Southwest Airlines

E.   Northwest Airlines

Answer: A & D

Phoenix / Scottsdale

The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is the only Mobil Five Star, AAA Five Diamond Hotel in the State of Texas, and is certainly regarded as one of Dallas’ finest.

We had an opportunity to recently check out The Mansion, and service is still legendary. The Mansion has a staff that is aimed to cater to your every need, and facilities that fulfill five star appetites. The Mansion is currently reviewing renovation options, and we had a chance to take a sneak peek at their new guest room designs. These new designs are refreshing, and will appeal to the Mansion’s current following, but will also gain the attention of a more contemporary minded guest. The new design is timeless, as it pays tribute to the classic Mansion style while also offering a fresh new take with several contemporary undertones. Bathrooms are slated to be redesigned with Glass Enclosed Showers, and Suites will offer oversized bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs. Once this new renovation is complete, the Mansion will not only offer some of the best service available, but also dynamite new accommodations to match. Look for these new changes in 2009.

We did see a “Show Room” of what the renovated rooms will look like and we were very impressed.  Although we can’t show you a picture because the upgrades have not been finalized take a look at the Mansion on Peachtree, it’s very similar in this elegant yet modern motif as seen in the photo below.

Attractions:

CNN Studio Tour

Georgia Aquarium

World of Coca-Cola

Food:

Ecco

Tavern at Phipps Plaza

Atlanta Grill

Be Sure to Check Out:

a
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A

Dallas