Category: Hotels
Tips for getting a great hotel room -- Part 1.
An old real estate adage says to buy the cheapest house in a great neighborhood. And while that might be sound advice for house hunters, those looking for the perfect hotel room would do well to ignore it.You want to be in a great neighborhood, that much is true. But getting the cheapest room you can find is probably a mistake.
If you've spent any time reading traveler reviews on sites like tripadvisor, you know that even the best hotels have some unhappy guests. Read between the lines and it's almost always clear that the poor sap who had a bad experience booked the least expensive room.
Read complete post
Barge accommodations in Paris.
Not long ago we wrote a post about Bateau Simpatico -- luxury barge accommodations in Paris practically at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. We loved our stay there and highly recommend it to anyone who plans to spend a week in Paris. With a beautiful living room, fully tricked-out kitchen, shower, washing machine, and topside deck right on the Seine, it has everything for a memorable week in the City of Light.More information is available at http://www.quai48parisvacation.com.
If you plan to spend less that a week in Paris and you don't want to break the bank, there's another floating alternative -- Bateau Johanna.
Read complete post
Luxury barge living in Paris.
A few years ago, we went on a barge cruise in Burgundy, and fell in love with barges and barging. So when we found a barge in Paris available by the week, we were all over it.
Moored at Quai Suffren, practically at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, Bateau Simpatico is a great hotel or apartment alternative. Like all boats, she has her idiosyncrasies, and when the huge Bateaux Mouches sightseeing boats ply by, she rocks and rolls wholeheartedly in response. But we thought that was one of the best parts of living aboard.
Read complete post
Unique accommodations and great deals at Portugal's Pousadas.
Most savvy travelers know about Spain's paradors. Established by the Spanish government in 1928, they provide unique lodging in castles, monasteries, Moorish palaces, and historic estates throughout the country.Less well known, but equally charming, are the pousadas of Portugal. Classified as historic, charming, or noteworthy due to natural setting, the pousadas feature traditional hospitality and regional cuisine and wine.
Read complete post
San Carlos de Bariloche and Argentina's Patagonia.
If you haven't been to Argentina yet, chances are it's on your short list. The charms of Buenos Aires are one of travel's worst-kept secrets.
But Argentina is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. So even those who are just planning to pop down for a city visit should add
Patagonia and the Lakes district to their itinerary.
San Carlos de Bariloche, a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires, makes an easy gateway. The town, which looks like a Swiss village, is underwhelming - you'll see all there is to see in a couple of hours. But the location on Lake Nahuel Huapi is beautiful.
Read complete post
