We want to give a BIG THANKS to the New York Times for noticing us.  They wrote a great article that appeared in the Sunday Travel Section and online, it touched on the very problem TripKick solves.

They note that TripKick is the only website that “offers room-by-room guides for hotels.”

Yup, we’re growing fast!  17 cities and counting, with Dallas and New Orleans coming this month.

Remember Travelers, we want to Hear from you.  Make sure to post your Room Reviews on the “Your Experience Tab” and if you have a great Travel Story that you want us to share be sure to Email Travel@tripkick.com.

Well, just in case you were wondering, we’ve been exploring Minneapolis and St. Paul, in search of the very best hotel rooms. Minneapolis has some exciting new hotels, but we wanted to tell you about two of the newest, and perhaps most exciting choices.

W Hotels has done it again with the W Minneapolis, The Foshay. Housed in the historic “Foshay Tower” the W Minneapolis blends old and new, in one seamless package. The building itself is modeled after the Washington Monument, making this W unique, with 57 different room types. Yep, 57 room types! Each room is a bit different from the next, a feature we think is quite neat. Rooms are impressive to say the least, with contemporary decor and features that you won’t always find at other W’s. Select rooms feature bathrooms with windows, and all rooms have Oversized Glass Showers. The W Minneapolis Lobby or “Livingroom” is one of the largest we’ve seen, and is already “the” place to be in the city. For a real treat, be sure to check out Prohibition, located on the 27th Floor. This “old meets new” bar is one of the hippest in town, and features wonderful views of the Minneapolis Skyline.

The Westin Edina Galleria is another addition to the Minneapolis hotel scene, located just fifteen minutes outside of Downtown Minneapolis. Primarily designed with the business traveler in mind, The Westin Edina is adjacent to the upscale Galleria Shops of Distinction, as well as a host of local businesses. Guest rooms feature Westin’s Heavenly Beds, as well as generously sized bathrooms with separate showers and bathtubs. Swimmers will enjoy the Saline Saltwater Pool, a feature that can only be enjoyed in a handful of hotels across North America.

1.  Clift Hotel - San Francisco, CA

You can’t come to San Francisco and not have a drink in the Redwood Room. Historic in age but made modern by the Morgan’s Group touch. A great scene for those looking to party with the who’s who of the Bay Area.

2.  The Standard - West Hollywood, CA

Located on the Famous Sunset Strip, this Retro Style embodies the hipster motif. At night the Lobby turns into a great bar scene, with some attractive models in a glass box behind the check in desk. Behind the restaurant there is a great club, but be prepared to wait.

3.  Thompson Beverly Hills - Beverly Hills, CA

One of the new “It” places of Beverly Hills night life. They just opened their rooftop lounge/pool/bar where you can enjoy drinks by the stars. It has a 70’s flair with the sophistication of the Thompson New York properties which is why we think it’s one of the coolest places in LA.

4.  The Hotel at Mandalay Bay - Las Vegas, NV

Yes, most of the Las Vegas Hotels pride themselves on being Party Hotels, but “The Hotel” is one the most impressive modern hotels in the world. Their Mix Lounge has the most impressive view of the Strip and some of the most interesting designs.

5.  Delano Hotel - Miami Beach, FL

The 2^nd Morgan’s Hotel on our List, this hotel is the Classy Chic hotel of South Beach. Make sure you save your designer clothes, anything else would seem out of place for this high-end party scene.

6.  Hard Rock Hotel - Chicago, IL

The cutting edge of Chicago nightlife is at Rock Bar. The scene is trendy and “hard”. Located on the Miracle Mile of Michigan Avenue, you never know which stars you might see wandering around.

7.  Hotel Solamar - San Diego, CA

Great pool bar, great music, and almost every night in San Diego is a beautiful night…located in the Gaslamp District which has become the heart of the San Diego party scene.

8.  W Atlanta-Midtown - Atlanta, GA

This W just completed their multi-million dollar renovation and it shows. We’ve seen every W Hotel in the USA and this is our favorite so far. Great restaurant, Spice Market, and with three separate bars - it’s very easy to find a scene that fits you. This Hotel has become the place to be on a Friday and Saturday night in Atlanta.

9.  Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel - Hollywood, CA

This Thompson hotel reflects the old Hollywood charm and the new age pool party scene. There’s always something going on at this hotel, given its location, the quintessential “Hollywood” experience.

10. W Chicago-Lakeshore - Chicago, IL

W Brings their party mood to this lake view hotel. Definitely just as hip as any party hotel, but with more of the zany feel we’ve all come to love from this Starwood brand.

New Orleans    Minneapolis

Seattle Hotel Room Reviews are now Live!

You can now find your perfect room in Seattle. TripKick.com has profiled 28 hotels encompassing a great representation of what the city has to offer!

Here are the Top 5 TripKick Picks for Seattle

Best Boutique - Alexis Hotel

Best Business / Convention - Grand Hyatt Seattle

Best Hip & Trendy - W Seattle

Best Romantic Getaway - Hotel Max

Best Quiet & Serene - PanPacific Seattle

TripKick Top 10 Most Refreshing Hotels

1) Mandalay Bay & The Hotel Resorts (Las Vegas) – Best combination of pools that suit all travelers who want to get wet and wild. This resort offers so much in terms of pool amenities we have to turn to bullet points!

- Giant Wave Pool and Lazy River – great for families

- Adult Topless Pool – don’t have to tell explain who this is for!

- Additional Two Regular Pools – West and East Lagoons for sunbathing and swimming

- Gambling overlooking Pools in newer Beachside Casino

Insider Tip: The Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay also has a separate pool which is definitely the least visited and quietest pool on the strip. Visitors to this pool must be staying at the Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay and not the regular hotel.

2) Regent Bal Harbour (Miami) – Surrounded on two sides by water, an expansive beach is just steps away to the ocean, and the harbor jetty on the North side allows for ultimate privacy. Both pool and adjoining beach are fully serviced with hotel staff.

Insider Tip: The pool is brand spankin’ new, opened in March 2008…so you’ll be the first summer vacationers to take a dip!

3) The Surf and Sand Resort (Orange County, CA) – The hotel literally sits right on top of the beach. There aren’t many other hotels we’ve covered that get your tired toes closer to a beach’s squishy sand than this. The pool and ocean are yards away.

Insider Tip: Stay in the main tower for quick-and-easy access to the pool and beach.

4) Loews Miami Beach Hotel (Miami) – Great for kids and families. The hotel services both the pool area and beach, but the best part is its proximity to famous shops and restaurants. Mom can shop, the kids can swim, and Dad can relax.

Insider Tip: The hotel offers a “SoBe Kids Camp” offered throughout the year with water games and dive-in movies…yes it’s for kids.

5) Four Seasons Hotel (Miami) – The pool’s elevated tropical oasis is perfect for relaxation. Located on the 7^th floor in downtown Miami, it’s a great alternate to the hustle and bustle of South Beach.

Insider Tip: If extra hot hang out in the separate wading pool immersed with plants, palms, and pondlike nooks.

6) Hotel del Coronado (San Diego) – This famous Victorian-style resort could not be forgotten from this TripKick Top 10. The combination of expansive beachfront property and old-world feel make this a unique offering in beachside hotels.

Insider Tip: Request a room in the Cabana or Ocean Towers for the best views and beach access.

7) Hard Rock Hotel (Las Vegas) – Calling all hip twenty-something’s! This hotel pioneered the pool party scene that is now sweeping through Las Vegas. Still one of the most popular pool parties in Las Vegas, Rehab Sundays includes skimpily dressed women and muscle men galore.

Inside Tip: Submerse yourself and never miss a beat, as speakers underwater allow you to hear the poolside music. Stay in an even-numbered room so you’ll never miss the pool action.

8 Hyatt Mission Bay (San Diego) – Certain rooms have direct access to the pool via the room. The hotel displays multiple pools and waterslides. They also supply jet skis and kayaks for bay activities. The best part - a water taxi will take you directly to Sea World across the bay.

Insider Tip: This resort just went through a $65 million renovation, and it truly shows! Bay Towers 1 & 2 odd-numbered rooms have patios with direct pool access.

9) Hotel Casa del Mar (Los Angeles) – Despite being located near the busy Pacific Coast Highway, your stay will still feel peaceful and relaxing with a 5^th floor pool overlooking the ocean…just don’t get stressed out trying to decide which one to take a swim in first!

Insider Tip: Have a “beach concierge” that will attend to guests’ specific pool and beach needs, anything from setting up chairs for lunch on the beach, requesting bike rentals, and finding rafts, surf boards, and boogie boards to ride the waves.

10) The London West Hollywood (Los Angeles) – No oceans next to this hotel, but who needs an ocean when you have a 10^th floor rooftop pool overlooking views of Hollywood. The hotel is located on a hill so it feels a lot higher than 10 floors up…oh how the city sparkles at night!

Insider Tip: Pool just opened June 2008; it’s completely new.

TripKick wants to hear from you!

As Lovers of Travel we would love to hear your Travel Stories. We are starting a Feature on the TripKick Blog highlighting visitors’ latest Adventures. Whether it be an amazing hotel stay, a travel tip, or just a great trip we want to hear from you. E-mail your submission with pictures, stories, and extras to Travel@TripKick.com

We are so excited! Today TIME.com listed TripKick as one of the Best Websites of 2008.

TripKick -50 Best Websites 2008 - TIME.com

This is a great designation for us and we are so thankful to TIME for noticing us. Please be sure to Vote for TripKick, TIME lists the 50 websites but lets readers rate them. So please Vote Early and Vote Often!

TripKick is heading to Seattle. We look forward to profiling another great selection of hotels and bringing you all a great list of rooms to request.

We’re happy to see so many people post their own room experiences. We love to hear what other travelers enjoyed, and I hope you all keep it coming.

Sign Up now for the TripKick Newsletter, the first will be coming very soon. We’ll be asking for your feedback. We want to know which hotels you prefer and what you look for when selecting a room.