With happy hearts, full stomachs and without a care in the world, it was off to the beach.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
La Torre De Pizza | San Sebastian
On a rainy morning in San Sebastian, I awoke with a fuzzy head and a ravenous appetite. I spotted La Torre De Pizza from our hotel balcony and felt better about the day already. Sometimes you just need a pizza. Even on vacation. Even in Spain. Prefaced by a ridiculously fresh pasta salad and washed down with an ice cold Coca-Cola, I decided once I officially moved to town that I would get takeout from this spot on a regular basis. Everyone needs a go to pizza spot. Plus, the laid back and accommodating Basque surfer-dude behind the counter spoke English. That's especially nice when you've been out since 3am. 
With happy hearts, full stomachs and without a care in the world, it was off to the beach.
With happy hearts, full stomachs and without a care in the world, it was off to the beach.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tower of London
Happy Travel Tuesday. (Are you sensing a theme?)
The Tower of London is an iconic landmark situated on the north bank of the River Thames, home of the Historic Royal Palace and The Crown Jewels as well other prominent and powerful entities through the years since it was built in 1078. Tricia and I embarked on a tour lead by a spirited Beefeater, wandered the green (noting the legendary ravens) and explored the Royal Armory. We were engrossed in tales of beheading among others told of London's past, and fascinated by the visual displays of all that accompanied a life of majesty.
The tower is worth a visit especially (or specifically) for a glimpse of the jaw dropping collection of Crown Jewels. The sheer beauty of these gems - among them diamonds, rubys and emeralds to name a few, set in regal purple crowns and gold encrusted wands with their perfectly cut shapes, massive size and intense sparkle factor, is unreal. (Too bad you can't photograph them.) What you can photograph is just about everything else, as shown in the Instagram collage below. 
The majestic Tower Bridge can be seen from atop the fortress walls and around the outer perimeter of the area. This famous landmark is commonly mistaken as London Bridge, which is actually further down the river and not nearly as poignant. We didn't have time for a tour of the bridge on this trip, but to marvel in its presence felt like enough.
The Tower of London is an iconic landmark situated on the north bank of the River Thames, home of the Historic Royal Palace and The Crown Jewels as well other prominent and powerful entities through the years since it was built in 1078. Tricia and I embarked on a tour lead by a spirited Beefeater, wandered the green (noting the legendary ravens) and explored the Royal Armory. We were engrossed in tales of beheading among others told of London's past, and fascinated by the visual displays of all that accompanied a life of majesty.
The tower is worth a visit especially (or specifically) for a glimpse of the jaw dropping collection of Crown Jewels. The sheer beauty of these gems - among them diamonds, rubys and emeralds to name a few, set in regal purple crowns and gold encrusted wands with their perfectly cut shapes, massive size and intense sparkle factor, is unreal. (Too bad you can't photograph them.) What you can photograph is just about everything else, as shown in the Instagram collage below. 
The majestic Tower Bridge can be seen from atop the fortress walls and around the outer perimeter of the area. This famous landmark is commonly mistaken as London Bridge, which is actually further down the river and not nearly as poignant. We didn't have time for a tour of the bridge on this trip, but to marvel in its presence felt like enough. 
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
JC Rooms Santa Ana | Madrid
Happy Travel Tuesday! I've certainly waxed poetic enough about Madrid, a simple mention of that majestic Spanish city makes my heart smile. I'm glad this blog has given my experience a home so-to-speak, where the memories live and the recommendations translate. 
The space where I rested my head every night after taking it all in (every step through Parque Retiro and famous painting at The Prado, every last tapas plate and glass of Sangria....) was JC Rooms Santa Ana offering admirable accommodations in the city center, just steps from Puerta del Sol. 
The brown marble facade is snuggled in between a tapas bar and a kebab joint on the tiny but busy one way side street, Calle de la Cruz. The hotel is located on the second and third floors where a small reception and lounge area is colorful and inviting with modern decor. 
Black Ikea tables and shelving are surrounded by energetic orange couches, among newspaper comic strip window curtains and a funky rainbow-bright wall constructed of glass cubes.
The vibrant and contemporary hotel managed to offer a number of noteworthy amenities, beginning with my personal favorite: the free mini bar. A fridge restocked daily with ice cold Spanish beer, refreshing soft drinks and bottled water, this was a major perk that I appreciated ten fold after returning from a hot afternoon in the sun or awaking after a late night out. P.S. The Kas was awesome, especially the Limon flavor. P.P.S. The Finkbrau Pils was not great. 
Now that we've got that out of the way (admit it, you're sold) lets talk about the rooms themselves. When we stayed (September 2011) a room with a double bed cost $112/night. There are 25 rooms total, which were remodeled in October 2010, each one named after a different region of Spain.
The space where I rested my head every night after taking it all in (every step through Parque Retiro and famous painting at The Prado, every last tapas plate and glass of Sangria....) was JC Rooms Santa Ana offering admirable accommodations in the city center, just steps from Puerta del Sol. 
The brown marble facade is snuggled in between a tapas bar and a kebab joint on the tiny but busy one way side street, Calle de la Cruz. The hotel is located on the second and third floors where a small reception and lounge area is colorful and inviting with modern decor. Black Ikea tables and shelving are surrounded by energetic orange couches, among newspaper comic strip window curtains and a funky rainbow-bright wall constructed of glass cubes.The vibrant and contemporary hotel managed to offer a number of noteworthy amenities, beginning with my personal favorite: the free mini bar. A fridge restocked daily with ice cold Spanish beer, refreshing soft drinks and bottled water, this was a major perk that I appreciated ten fold after returning from a hot afternoon in the sun or awaking after a late night out. P.S. The Kas was awesome, especially the Limon flavor. P.P.S. The Finkbrau Pils was not great. 
Now that we've got that out of the way (admit it, you're sold) lets talk about the rooms themselves. When we stayed (September 2011) a room with a double bed cost $112/night. There are 25 rooms total, which were remodeled in October 2010, each one named after a different region of Spain.
We adored the look and feel of Aragon, thriving on a primary color scheme with sunny yellow walls and bold red and blue accents. The blow up photograph turned wall mural of the region truly distinguishes the space.
Low hanging light fixtures were appropriately placed and the sweeping curtains over the single window allowed a small amount of light to stream through even when they were closed. 
The room was tiny, but this much we both expected. I am pretty content in a European hotel as long as I have space enough breath and decent floor space to store my suitcase. 
A closet is an added bonus. So is a desk and especially so is a computer. This small space contained all three without feeling totally cramped. A flat screen TV is mounted on the wall and there is a safe in the closet. 
The double bed was comfy and I absolutely loved the intricate black and white bedspread, it added a double dose of contrasting elements to the angular, colorful space. I could have done with fluffier pillows, though. ;)
What did feel a little cramped was the bathroom, but with sleek black fixtures defined by shiny red tiles and glowing teal blue windows, it was actually quite striking. Toiletries came in the form of bath gels and soap (no lotion or shampoo) and packaged toothbrushes and toothpaste. There isn't much room on the sink or additional space to spread out your personal goods. A shelf for my contacts, makeup, etc would have been ideal. 
Supposedly that is a hydro-massage shower, but you could have fooled me. Those mounted nozzles and attached upper shower head were fakes! (We had no idea how to turn them on.) No buttons, switches or what have you existed on the standard movable shower head or anywhere. We tried every conceivable option to turn them on. In theory (or for those non shower engineer challenged) this is a great amenity. 
Why didn't we ask about them? Well, I think we tried, but, gave up without a fight because it was just a few shower nozzles and we don't speak Spanish very well. (The front desk staff varied in terms of their proficiency in English. Some were fluent, others not at all.) However, all of them were absolutely lovely people who smiled often and genuinely seemed to care about us and our stay. 
Other noteworthy perks included the free wifi and the free guided tours. I have never come across a hotel that includes a tour in your stay! The pre-scheduled walking tours meet on certain days at 11am the lobby. We decided to take advantage and embarked on a four hour expedition lead by a lively British transplant - a young girl named Lonnie, along with an interesting cast of characters visiting from all over. The tour was fun, engaging and proved to be quite valuable for learning our way around Madrid. 
With a fresh and innovative approach, these affordable Madrid hotel rooms offer great value for the money. Situated in one of the best locations by which to explore the city and within a safe and spirited neighborhood, I would definitely recommend JC Rooms Santa Ana to travelers with a like minded budget and expectations.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Charing Cross Hotel | London
I have been meaning for quite sometime to write about the hotels I stayed at while in Spain and then the one in London. My affection for hotels runs deep (I've actually reviewed quite a few on here) and plus, I'll take any excuse to let the travel related posts continue! Expect to see some here and there in the coming months.
Refined and charming, the Charing Cross Hotel sprawls over the eponymous Underground station in the heart of London, located on The Strand adjacent to Covent Garden, steps from Trafalgar Square, Victoria Embankment and the West End.
The Victorian style architecture embodies classic elegance and the interior design matches with a polished luxury that also manages to feel cozy and homey. 
Our stay occurred from December 9-12th so naturally the spirit of the holidays shined through in the decor. Charing Cross was well dressed for the occasion! 
The front desk staff were extremely polite and the always helpful concierge was a constant source for restaurant recommendations and other general questions. He was very thorough, offering to make us reservations on the fly and taking the time to point out spots on the map and give us directions. 
The central location makes for an ideal home base as it is within easy strolling distance to most of the major sights and shopping districts.
When we did not feel like walking, everywhere we wanted to eat or explore was a short cab ride or Underground trip away. 
Refined and charming, the Charing Cross Hotel sprawls over the eponymous Underground station in the heart of London, located on The Strand adjacent to Covent Garden, steps from Trafalgar Square, Victoria Embankment and the West End.
The Victorian style architecture embodies classic elegance and the interior design matches with a polished luxury that also manages to feel cozy and homey. 
Our stay occurred from December 9-12th so naturally the spirit of the holidays shined through in the decor. Charing Cross was well dressed for the occasion! 
The front desk staff were extremely polite and the always helpful concierge was a constant source for restaurant recommendations and other general questions. He was very thorough, offering to make us reservations on the fly and taking the time to point out spots on the map and give us directions. 
The central location makes for an ideal home base as it is within easy strolling distance to most of the major sights and shopping districts.
When we did not feel like walking, everywhere we wanted to eat or explore was a short cab ride or Underground trip away. 
The skywalk/hallway that we walked over to get to-and-from our room is an eye catching point on the exterior and was done up tastefully on the interior with twinkling strands of white lights fronted by sheer curtains. 
Every corridor is illuminated with red glass candles, adding to the elegance as well the understated coziness. 
Up a sweeping marble staircase carpeted in a deep red and gold pattern and down the glowing hallway over the street, 
a sleek room featuring modern furnishings with gray, maroon and navy accents awaited. 
Decor points included a leather purple chair with unique floral upholstery and fun iridescent black lamp shades.
It was clean and comfortable, 
boasting two twin beds with fluffy white linens, 
and a glistening bathroom stocked accordingly with mini bath gels and creams.
Appreciating the simple luxuries, I always feel the need to capture the pristine looking space I'll be calling home for the next few nights. This means snapping loads of photographs upon arrival and/or throughout the stay.
We didn't have an in house mini bar (just an empty fridge, stocked to order) but we did have a hot pot and a coffee and tea spread accompanied by packets of gingersnaps. This was most appreciated, as coffee is an essential start to my day! (And the empty mini bar was easily remedied by a trip to the neighboring convenience store.)
While we did not experience the food at The Brasserie, we did enjoy a nightcap at the sophisticated Elanor's Cocktail Bar in the form of champagne cocktails. 
If you're looking for 4-star accommodations in central London, the Charing Cross is a fantastic choice.
Other Indulge Inspire Imbibe Hotel reviews:
Liberty Hotel | Beacon Hill, Boston
All Star Resort | Walt Disney World
Every corridor is illuminated with red glass candles, adding to the elegance as well the understated coziness. 
Up a sweeping marble staircase carpeted in a deep red and gold pattern and down the glowing hallway over the street, 
a sleek room featuring modern furnishings with gray, maroon and navy accents awaited. 
Decor points included a leather purple chair with unique floral upholstery and fun iridescent black lamp shades.
It was clean and comfortable, 
boasting two twin beds with fluffy white linens, 
and a glistening bathroom stocked accordingly with mini bath gels and creams.
Appreciating the simple luxuries, I always feel the need to capture the pristine looking space I'll be calling home for the next few nights. This means snapping loads of photographs upon arrival and/or throughout the stay.We didn't have an in house mini bar (just an empty fridge, stocked to order) but we did have a hot pot and a coffee and tea spread accompanied by packets of gingersnaps. This was most appreciated, as coffee is an essential start to my day! (And the empty mini bar was easily remedied by a trip to the neighboring convenience store.)While we did not experience the food at The Brasserie, we did enjoy a nightcap at the sophisticated Elanor's Cocktail Bar in the form of champagne cocktails. If you're looking for 4-star accommodations in central London, the Charing Cross is a fantastic choice.
The Strand,
London WC2N 5HX
London WC2N 5HX
Other Indulge Inspire Imbibe Hotel reviews:
Liberty Hotel | Beacon Hill, Boston
All Star Resort | Walt Disney World
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