Archive for the ‘Stay’ Category

November30

A Casino Hotel Stay: Atlantis Resort | Reno, Nevada

By: JoAnna

A Casino Hotel Stay: Atlantis Resort | Reno, NevadaI may live in Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean that I spend the night on the Strip. In fact, except for a few nights at the Stratosphere when we rushed to the city to find an apartment, I have never stayed in a casino hotel in Sin City.

When I found out that I would be staying at the Atlantis Casino, Resort and Spa in Reno, Nevada, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been through casinos before, but what, exactly, would it be like to actually check in at one? Would I be wowed when I opened the door to my room? If gaming was the key component to the experience, would the fitness center meet my expectations? How loud would it be? Is the food as good when you’re a guest as when you’re just visiting for a meal?

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November9

Powered by Green: Biltmore Tahoe Hotel to Become Boulder Bay

By: JoAnna

Powered by Green: Biltmore Tahoe Hotel to Become Boulder BayIn the parking lot of the Biltmore Tahoe Hotel, a tall, rickety looking sign held up by a few wooden stabilizing boards screams early 1900s kitsch. It’s a tacky sign, but it’s also a piece of nostalgia for people who have been coming to the Biltmore Tahoe Hotel in Nevada for the last umpteen years.

The property has been a part of the Tahoe landscape for a long time with its classic fireplace upstairs and small, tired casino and steakhouse downstairs. It’s the kind of place where the buffet is nothing special and 50-something wait staff have been working since they were teenagers. The kind of place where the speck of a pool is closed off with a large gate and rooms have windows that open.

The Biltmore Tahoe Hotel, is, by any locals’ standards, that place that just is, always has been and, they thought, always would be.

But things are about to change at the Biltmore Tahoe Hotel, and as a person who isn’t tied to the property’s past, I think that’s a good thing.

Located just barely on the Nevada side of Tahoe, this old school hotel has been approved for deconstruction so that Boulder Bay can be built. This new resort and wellness center is being designed with the environment in mind, and, with a pedestrian-friendly layout that emphasizes open space and minimal water and energy use, the property is expected to see a 32% decrease in its carbon footprint.

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September19

What to Ask Before Staying at an All-Inclusive Resort

By: JoAnna

What to Ask Before Staying at an All Inclusive ResortThe all-inclusive resort.

From the beaches of the Dominican Republic to the mountains of Utah, there are so-called all-inclusive resorts in just about every part of the world though they’re particularly popular in the Caribbean and on beachfront property. For some people, the idea of staying somewhere that requires no effort is appealing while other people shudder at the thought of staying in one place for longer than a day. Regardless of what type of traveler you are, if you’re new at the all-inclusive resort scene but are thinking about staying at one, there are a few things you should ask before booking your stay.

How all-inclusive is this joint anyway? All-inclusive doesn’t necessarily mean all–inclusive. In fact, in most cases, there are at least a few things that are not added into the package price. At the most basic level, all-inclusive resorts include a room and at least a small assortment of dining options to choose from. In some cases, alcoholic drinks and access to fitness rooms, additional restaurants and water sport equipment may be included. However, in almost all instances, spa treatments and off-site excursions are not included.

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September14

Two Eco-Resorts in the Riviera Maya | Mexico

By: JoAnna

Everything is splashed with “green” and “eco” these days. For those interested in staying at places with a light carbon footprint, it can be hard to sort out which are legit and which are simply green washing their hotel policies. On a recent trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico, I was surprised to discover that there are several resorts that have truly embraced environmental awareness in just about all aspects of the property.

It’s easy and possible to be eco-friendly without giving up luxury. If you’re heading to the Riviera Maya and want to do your part to help the environment while still feeling pampered, consider staying at one of these two Earth-hugging resorts:

Hacienda Tres Rios

Two Eco Resorts in the Riviera Maya | Mexico

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August31

Wellness and Relaxation at Red Mountain Resort

By: JoAnna

Wellness and Relaxation at Red Mountain ResortEvery year my sister and I have a girls’ getaway. This year, we decided to focus on relaxation, and our search for the perfect wellness retreat ended up including options on the beaches of Bali and in the mountains of Canada, but we didn’t have to stray far from my home in Las Vegas to find what I am convinced is the absolute best place to get away from it all.

Red Mountain Resort is tucked about ten miles off the highway near St. George among the stunning red rocks of southern Utah. It’s a relatively small property with 82 standard guest rooms and 24 full-size villas, and while the rooms are top of the line, it’s not the accommodations that attract people to the resort. Red Mountain Resort’s slogan is “Find Yourself Between a Rock and a Soft Place,” which is an excellent way to describe a destination that encourages fitness, adventure and movement while also making it unbelievably easy to relax and chill out.

My sister and I are active people, so we were looking for a wellness retreat that offered ample fitness classes and delicious but healthy food. Not only did we find both of these things but we were also impressed to discover hardcore adventure activities, daily hikes, a spa and general health classes as well. Any way that a person might arrive at wellness and better health — from massages, pottery making classes, thyroid workshops and spiritual meditation to rappelling, healthy eating, zumba, shamanic healing and just relaxing by the pool — seems to be available here. The definition of wellness encompasses so much, and the staff and scheduling at Red Mountain Resort are versatile and flexible enough to provide guidance and support for any health-related goals that visitors might set.

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August17

Three Hotels in the Cook Islands

By: JoAnna

In addition to my awesome stay at Atiu Homestay Bed & Breakfast on Atiu in the Cook Islands, I was given the opportunity to stay at three other properties — two on Rarotonga and one on Aitutaki. Though none of them compared with the awesomely authentic experience I had on Atiu, all three were comfortable and pleasant resorts, and I would recommend all three to potential visitors.

Three Hotels in the Cook IslandsMuri Beach Club Hotel | Rarotonga, Cook Islands

This adults-only beach resort is a fairly standard property with rooms and suites situated in multi-layered buildings. Some open into the garden areas, and others are just steps away from the sand. I stayed in a deluxe beachfront room, which had huge sliding doors and my own set of beach chairs. Though I’m fond of the beach over the pool myself, there is an on-site pool available to guests. Muri Beach offers a complimentary breakfast buffet with fresh fruit, granola and coffee, which was perfect for starting my first full day in the country. Perhaps most notable is the fact that there is a computer in the lobby of the hotel with free wifi access, which is extremely hard to come by in the Cook Islands, so take advantage of this if you want to check in online.

For more information, visit the company website.

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