Hotel Patrol

Ahh – spring is in the air, the stores have the bathing suits on display – it must be time for Spring Break! Back in the day, we all headed south to Ft. Lauderdale. Now, it seems Mexico is the place to be on either coast. Well, that is all well and good, we had our time to party, but we still want to experience Spring Break, just perhaps not in the same way we did in our twenties. Winter has had its way with us, so we long for some sun and fun, but don’t necessarily want to be where the “kids” are. Well, I have just the spot for you!

Here’s a great trivia question for you. What city is the Classic Car Capital of Canada? Give up? The answer is Chatham. Next question – what U.S. city is near Chatham? You guessed it – Detroit. So now I say, book a flight to Detroit, rent a car, drive 53 miles (don’t forget your passport) and book a room at the Retro Suites Hotel. 

Knoxville is a city filled with southern charm, history and hospitality, so staying in a chain hotel would be out of the question. However, there is one boutique hotel in town and it’s a gem. Visit The Oliver, located on Market Square in the heart of downtown. Built in 1876 by German immigrant Peter Kern, it was a bakery and retail outlet of sorts. Peter was a man with a vision, and he is remembered today by the bar located in the hotel. It’s known as the Peter Kern Library Bar. It has a speakeasy vibe that serves up old school cocktails. The drink menus are hidden in old World Book Encyclopedias (Boomers will remember those – I still have mine!) This alone is a reason to stay here.

For those who want a high-end vacation, accommodations can be costly. Fortunately, timeshare rentals offer the perfect solution. Providing luxurious amenities and services, you'll be surprised how little renting a timeshare can cost. Third party websites such as SellMyTimeshareNow.com allow owners to advertise their timeshare properties for rent, giving you the opportunity to save big. Rent a timeshare at major resort brands such as Marriott, Wyndham, Disney, and many more, in destinations throughout the world, without paying the pricey developer rate. 

No, this is not a typo, the accommodation I bring to your attention is actually called, “A Room in Paris” because that's what you get and it's in a private residence! The city itself is charming, so why not stay in a place that makes you feel like Paris is your home.

Located on Lake Erie between Cleveland and Sandusky is the charming city of Vermillion, known as the Village of Lake Captains. It was incorporated in 1837 and became a popular shipping port. Today, it feels like a place where time stands still.

If your travels take you near Great Falls, Montana, then please add a couple nights and visit the Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton. Located 36 miles north of Great Falls, this is Montana’s oldest operating hotel. Built in 1882, 7 years before Montana became a state and at the height of the Steamboat era, this property cost $50,000 to construct and $150,000 to furnish. It ran on hard times in the 1980’s and had to close, but thanks to Jim and Cheryl Gagnon, Montana natives, the hotel was purchased by them in 1997, restored and then reopened in 1999. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

So you think you've been there, done that? Well, let me test it right now – have you been to the Adventure Suites in New Hampshire? I didn't think so!

Skiers will be happy to learn that the new 119-room Courtyard Lake George, set on the “Queen of American Lakes,” has partnered with Gore Mountain, the popular alpine ski resort, to offer guests time- and money-saving packages in 2017.

One of the great advantages of visiting a European capital is the proximity to the cultural and culinary opportunities that surround you. One of the disadvantages is the noise and the crowds. What if I said you could have the best of both worlds in Stockholm? Well, you actually can! The Hotel Skeppsholmen is situated on an island encompassed by the sea and nature, yet a short walk into the City. It is located across the bridge from the National Museum. The building, a former Navy barracks, dates back to 1699 and offers a variety of room types. Be sure to read the descriptions for each one to see what suits you best. There are 79 rooms, a tennis court, fitness center and a restaurant. You can rent bicycles here, go fishing or just enjoy the sea and garden. Room amenities include a TV, DVD player, minibar, modern shower and more.

When most of us visit California, we are likely heading to Los Angeles, San Diego or up north to San Francisco, but if you would like to experience something a bit more unique, how about Morro Bay?

Here's my question – do you think you can stay in a boutique hotel in mid-town Atlanta for under $200? The answer is a resounding YES! Now is it going to be 5 star – no, but how about 3 star in the best possible way? Check yourself into the Artmore Hotel built in 1924, sitting among the high rise buildings across from a MARTA station. Their address is 1302 W. Peachtree St., so you are close to the High Museum of Art, lots of great bars and restaurants and in the center of Atlanta's Cultural Arts District. It has an old Hollywood vibe with lots of black and white framed art of music and movie star icons.

You have to love a place that incorporates history and art as part of their environment and The Arts Hotel does exactly that. Located in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this member of the Historic Hotels of America is in the oldest inland city in the United States.

We love when hotels pay attention to us and single us out with a discount! Thank you Loews Atlanta! They figured out that we have flexibility with our time and dates and enjoy traveling, so here’s what their General Manager, Mark Castriota had to say, “ We wanted to reward this flexibility not only by offering deeply discounted rates on certain days of the week, but packaging it in a way that appeals directly to the travel experiences they seek.”

Want to combine luxury for both you and your pet? Bardessono in Yountville, California is the place for you and your best friend. In fact for the one-time pet cleaning fee of $150 you can have up to two pets stay with you in your room.

If you’re a sucker for romance, the great outdoors and a laid back atmosphere, then I have just the place for you! Head south to Adairsville, Georgia and visit the Barnsley Resort. This property begins with a love story and I have to include the Timeline of this estate so you can appreciate your visit to this magnificent area. 

Baby its cold outside – what a perfect time to pack up the grand kids or just yourself and head to Michigan and the Bavarian Inn. If traveling to Germany with the family is not an option this year, then have no fear, this will satisfy the thirst until then. The Inn is a family run business from the ground up, so great care is taken to make you feel welcome, comfortable and well fed. Here's what the President, Judy Zehnder Keller had to say, “Family is everything to us. My mother Dorothy, at nearly age 91, is still very active in the kitchen, my brother Bill and I along with our spouses oversee the restaurant and lodge. We both have two of our children in the business, nearly nine family members in senior management at this time. There are four in the fourth generation, four in the third generation and one in the second generation. It is a blessing and an honor to work with family.” I don't know about you, but this is the kind of place that I want to visit.

Many of us love staying at the beach and many of us also love a good bargain. It’s usually quite hard to find a bargain at the beach, but thanks to our sharp eyes at the Boomer Travel Patrol, we found the best of both worlds! 

With the chill hitting the air and the thoughts of last year’s cold winter, Susie is directing her thoughts to a trip to south Florida for warmth, sun and sand. One property that is in one of the lists of top pet-friendly locations is located just north of Miami in Lauderdale by the Sea and provides access to a good portion of south Florida and a stay on the Atlantic coast.

Located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia lies the town of Berkeley Springs. According to the census of 2010, the population is 624, so why am I telling you to go there and what might George Washington have to do with it?

Located just 2 hours south of San Francisco is a magnificent property surrounded by vineyards and mountains and fantastic food. Welcome to the Bernardus Lodge. Nestled about 20 minutes from the city of Carmel, you are greeted upon your arrival with a generous glass of wine from their vineyard – what could be a better start to your stay? Perhaps entering your room and seeing fresh flowers, a basket of goodies with fruit, cheese, chips and crackers along with 3 half bottles of wine and opening the door to your fridge and seeing cheese to accompany your crackers along with soft drinks.

On Saturday, June 1, the team left Erie to drive to Albany, NY to be close to the camp the night before our arrival in Vermont. Albany was a good stopping point because it put us within 70 miles of Marlboro for an easy drive to registration between 12:30 and 2:30 pm on Sunday.

First of all, please be sure to rent a car. This is a must for Los Angeles no matter where you stay, because everything is so spread out. Having stayed in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, the heart of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, I keep finding myself drawn back to the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel. This property is located between Westwood and Century City and is about a 5 minute drive into Beverly Hills. The area is residential, so you actually feel like you live here. Also, because it is residential, you can find free parking on the street after business hours and can avoid paying for valet parking, which is available if you choose. Let's face it, you will probably be out exploring all day anyway.

Give my regards to Broadway, but let me stay on the Upper West Side! I try to find hotels for you in the Big Apple that won’t break the bank, and believe me, that’s hard to do. I have written about two other properties in New York City and now you can add this gem to your list.