Studio King at The Donovan House (Room 1109)

Inauguration Day is almost here, so if you haven’t already secured yourself a hotel- you just may be out of luck. We still however are in the D.C. Hotel spirit, and wanted to share with you one of the city’s newest properties. The Donovan House, a Thompson Hotel (yes- related to 60 Thompson, 6 Columbus, LES etc.) is a great new addition to Washington D.C. Absent are endless chandeliers, and you’ll be reluctant to find oil paintings or loads of history here. The Donovan House is however the epitome of Hip, Sophistication and something different for Washington D.C.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a quaint yet playful Lobby Space that is both intimate and super stylish. The Donovan House defies everything that your typical D.C. hotel represents; it’s playful, imaginative and a refreshing alternative to the ordinary. Our one night in residence at The Donovan House proved to be a satisfying one; we were impressed by both the service and accommodations as well as the location. Last week, occupancy levels were still low, allowing us to see just about every room category that The Donovan has to offer. Every category from Standard Rooms to Suites offer unique amenities including fashion forward furnishings with retro flare, ultra-clever bathrooms with Cocoon Style Showers and Kiehl’s Bath Products (a Thompson Standard) Even the Donovan’s smallest Room Category (which represents a very small number of their rooms) with 1 Queen Bed is cozy and perfectly adequate for Single Business or Leisure travelers. Other room types with 1 King Bed offer ample space, and some feature nice views of the adjacent Thomas Circle.

King Superior Room (Most Standard Room w/1 King Bed) (Room Number 702)

King Suite (Note Cocoon Shower, a Standard Feature in All Rooms) (Room Number 420)

The Thompson Suite (Room Number 1110)

Kiehl’s Products, a Standard Amenity in All Guest Rooms & Suites

Regardless of your occasion (Inauguration or Not), The Donovan House Hotel is a Washington D.C. newcomer that is certain to impress the traveler who demands style and the unmistakably unique sophistication that the Donovan represents. The Donovan delivers personalized service, and is definitely a hotel that we look forward to frequenting when in D.C.

Check out the Donovan House Hotel Page Here.

Wow Suite, Dining Room Area, W New York

The W New York was the very first W property, and over the years it’s often been forgotten because of the many other W choices in the city. On our trip to NYC last week, we decided to meet with the folks at W New York to see the progress they’ve made with their newest renovation. Although I’ve never actually stayed at this W, I’ve often heard criticism of the small rooms and dated W Decor. I’ve seen many pictures of the old rooms, and let me tell you- the W New York has really done wonders with the renovation. Because space was such an issue (as it is with most NYC properties) the W had to be clever with their furniture placement and design. After an extensive tour of the new product, I can tell you that even the smallest categories offers a refreshing room layout with light colors, efficient use of space and a new more luxurious bathroom design. Clever additions such as Pole Mounted Flat Screen Televisions, and MiniBar/Closet Combos, all make these rooms seems larger and more inviting. One of my biggest criticisms of NYC hotels is space and room layout, but I was ready to check-in to the W New York after my tour.

Wonderful Category Room, Glass Shower, Pole Mounted TV & Desk Area (Room Number 1627)

The suites have also been meticulously re-designed with utmost attention to design and detail. White linens, purple furniture tones and retro NYC style artwork & trinkets are all standard features in Suite Category Rooms. Specialty suites including the “Wow Suites” are truly dynamite and feature large Outdoor Terraces, which are an absolutely rarity in NYC.

Fantastic Suite (Room Number 1634)

Wow Suite (Room Number 1725)

From one hotel aficionado to another, give the W New York a try on your next visit, you won’t be disappointed. The W New York has a stellar Midtown Manhattan Location, a wide variety of room types, and some of the most comfortable beds in the city.

Inauguration Day 2009 is rapidly approaching, but The St. Regis Washington D.C. is already fully committed. The St. Regis sold out quickly, perhaps because of its well deserved reputation in “The District” as the locals call D.C., as being one of the city’s finest. Located just two blocks from The White House, it’s an ideal choice for those attending the Inauguration.

The St. Regis Washington D.C. has become a landmark hotel over the past several decades, and has transformed delightfully in recent years. For some time, Sheraton managed the “Carlton Hotel” and in the late 1990’s, the property became a part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection of hotels and subsequently was renamed “St. Regis Washington D.C.” St. Regis completed a meticulous renovation in 2008, and has unveiled a product that is simply marvelous. The St. Regis Washington was kind enough to give TripKick.com an inside look at the new transformation from top to bottom.

The St. Regis Washington fits perfectly in its environment, as it’s both elegant and stately. Starwood Hotels & Resorts however has still managed to incorporate its own creative design throughout the property. As soon as we arrived, we felt as though we had stepped into someone’s private residence. The lobby is elegant and outfitted with furnishings reminiscent of a private estate. They have done a remarkable job with blending timeless elegance with modern sophistication, which perhaps is best demonstrated in The St. Regis Bar & Adour Restaurant.

As we were on our way to tour Guest Rooms & Suites at The St. Regis Washington, we noted that designers have choosen a wide variety of color choices. Each room category displays a different variety of colors. For example, Superior Category Rooms feature a soft Gold color scheme while Deluxe Category Rooms feature a deeper Red almost Mediterranean style decor. St. Regis Suites boast a Blue decor that is both soothing and airy. Regardless of room type, accommodations are exceptionally well appointed and feature unbelievably comfortable beds with Pratesi Linens. Bathrooms at minimum are equipped with large Stand Alone Glass Showers, Integrated Mirror Televisions and Remede Bath products. Every imaginable 5 Star amenity is supplied, or available upon request. Shortly after my own check-in, I was greeted promptly at my door by my personal butler. She was quick to ensure that I had everything I needed, and even offered to unpack my things.

Superior Category King Room (Room Number 821) Exterior Views

Premier Category Room, 1 King Bed (Room 804) Note Alternate Color Scheme

Presidential Suite, Bedroom & Living Room Area (Room Number 610)

Washington D.C. has a large number of historic properties, but no other hotel better incorporates tasteful design with historic elegance than The St. Regis.

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.

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

The Fairmont Chicago has just completed a $50 million renovation, and I had an opportunity to check it out first hand while in Chicago this weekend. Let me say that I’ve seen just about every hotel in Chicago, and I can say without hesitation that this is certainly among the nicest, post renovation. Fairmont is known for its more traditional decor style, but don’t expect your grandparent’s Fairmont with this property. The Fairmont Chicago has evolved into something contemporary and sophisticated, while maintaining its class. The property has been renovated from top to bottom, including the lobby, restaurants and guest rooms. The Fairmont Chicago also has wonderful new addition, a fitness center and spa that covers over 11,000 sq. feet of space, making it fierce competition to the Chicago Hotel Spa scene.

Fairmont Chicago’s New Lobby: Cool, Open & Contemporary

Guest Rooms:  Spacious, Modern, and Bathrooms Feature Separate Showers & Tubs:

Click Here to find your Room

Meet Hotel Vertigo and Hotel Frank, formerly the York Hotel and Maxwell Hotel respectively.  We recently had an opportunity to get a sneak peek at the new product, and it’s quite a transformation.  Personality Hotels (Parent to the Hotel Union Square, Hotel Diva and others) has embarked on a new journey by bringing all of their San Francisco properties up to speed with new designs, amenities and comforts.

The Hotel Vertigo is located in the Lower Knob Hill area of San Francisco, just a short walk from Union Square and Knob Hill.  Formerly the York Hotel, the Vertigo is transforming into something so different, that previous guests won’t even recognize that this is the same hotel.  The York was home to Alfred Hitchcock’s film “Vertigo”, so the new name is quite appropeau.  Hotel Vertigo is something you might expect to see in Los Angeles, uber hip, stylish, playful but still exudes San Francisco sophistication. Let’s call it, Mondrian Los Angeles meets Clift Hotel San Francisco, but better.  Guest rooms at the Vertigo are tastefully decorated in orange and brown tones, and boast a contemporary element of style.

The Old:

The New:

The Hotel Frank is located just two blocks from Union Square, making it an ideal location for leisure and business travelers alike.  Formerly the Maxwell, Hotel Frank will be whimsical, modern and sophisticated.  Playing off the “Personality” concept, the Frank is a boutique hotel that offers guests a sense of style in a fun environment.  Guest rooms are sophisticated in style and upscale in feel, something very different from the floral pattern days of the Maxwell.  We can also tell you that the Frank will feature 2 Penthouse rooms, and we got a sneak peek…  Very few hotels in San Francisco offer outdoor space, but the Frank will be the exception.  Both penthouse suites will offer huge outdoor terraces, wonderful for taking in views of the city.  These rooms will also feature unique bathroom configurations, and one of these suites will in fact have a soaking tub right in the middle of the room.

The Old:

The New:

A Sneak Peak at the Outdoor Terraces for the Penthouse Suites:

The Grand Hyatt San Francisco is gearing up for a massive Rooms Renovation, so we wanted to give you a sneak peak as to what the designs will look like!  The Grand Hyatt San Francisco hasn’t seen a full rooms renovation is quite some time, so the new room syle is quite a change from the old.

First off, here’s what the rooms look like now:

The new:

Hyatt has decided to take a new direction on the room design by incorporating a cool contemporary motif with a modern yet practical feel.  There are currently 2 model rooms which showcase the proposed designs:  Room Number 2523 (Standard Room w/ 2 Double Beds) and Room Number 2524 (Standard Room w/1 King Bed)  All other rooms won’t see the new design until 2009, but request one of these 2 rooms, and you’ll be one of the first to see one of these fabulous prototypes.

The new guest rooms feature high tech furnishings, along with flat panel 42″ wall mounted televisions, fully equipped with an A/V panel and plenty of outlets.  The rooms are cool, with white and purple colored appointments.  The bathrooms are probably the most notable change, as they feature glass enclosed walk-in showers, new countertops and fixtures.

We can’t wait until the renovation is fully complete in 2009, but until then- request one of the aforementioned rooms for a first look at this spectacular new renovation!