Not that long ago and very unexpected, I ended up at Homewood Suites by Hilton.   It was July 25th around 3:00 pm that a fierce thunderstorm hit the area.  It was brief, but left devastation in its aftermath.  We lost power, (which I might add we never do) and I knew it was bad.

Oh well, I lay down and slept for a little while with the hope that all would be well when I woke.  I woke about 6 pm and nothing had changed.  Naturally I panicked...no computer to search hotels on.  Only my blackberry which seemed extremely slow.  It was at this moment that I thought you really need to have a local hotel plan.  I know a lot about hotels in other cities, but not where I live…..hmmm….not good.  I thought you should automatically know which hotels around you accept pets.  A definite learning lesson, but there was no time to waste.  Luckily, my first search brought up Homewood Suites by Hilton, located at 8728 Colesville Road, in downtown Silver Spring.  I called to see if they had availability and was told yes, but very limited.  I immediately reserved a King suite (all that was left) at $219 per night.   Hmmm, a little more than I wanted to pay, but I was in a bind.  For once I followed my instincts which told me this power outage would not be over quickly.

The task of packing up in the dark with only two flashlights (another learning lesson to buy more flashlights) was a little overwhelming.  Meanwhile the thermostat was quickly rising.

When we arrived at the hotel there was a backlog of vehicles attempting to reach the valet parking attendant.  No worries.  We were able to double park with the many other vehicles and went to check in.  There was one front desk clerk.  He worked tirelessly to accommodate the long line of guests, many who were frustrated themselves from not having power, together with their frustrated children and animals in tow.  Never once did the front desk clerk show any sign of frustration.  Yes, the elevators and staff were overwhelmed, but this was never exhibited to their guests.  Homewood Suites obviously had not anticipated the massive power outage and subsequent sold out status, but rose to the occasion.

We decided to valet park at a cost of $12.00 per day.  You were able to go in and out all day.  You only needed to call down thirty minutes prior to give them adequate time to bring your vehicle around.  The suite was great.  I had never stayed at a Homewood Suites before and was in for a real treat.  The room was tastefully decorated.  There was a large king bedroom at one end with ample storage for clothing.  At the other end was the living room area where a sleeper sofa was located, a small table, chester drawers, chairs and full kitchen.  The kitchen came supplied with dishes, cooking ware, full size refrigerator, stove cook top, microwave, sink, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, and an assortments of teas, coffees, paper towels, dishwashing detergent, pot holders, and dish towels.  The sleeper sofa had a nice size flat screen TV and the bedroom also had a nice size flat screen TV.  The large bathroom was in-between the living area and king bedroom and of course was stocked with ample soaps, shampoos, etc.   The room also had complimentary wireless.  Please note that this was great for a computer, but not for X-box live (although my son surely tried….all you mothers and wives out there who have a gamer in your family know exactly what I’m referring to).

The hotel itself was very quite (I’m not sure how with families, children and animals, but it was), they have a wonderful in-door swimming pool and jacuzzi.  The hotel also offers Monday-Thursday a complimentary hot breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, juice, and coffee) and a dinner each evening (Manager’s Reception) which consists of different menus.  One evening there was baked salmon, salad, rolls, potatoes, beer, wine and soda.  Another evening the menu consisted of cold cut sandwiches, salad, delicious chocolate cake, and the same beverages.

At one point during my stay I needed to make an adjustment to my reservation.  I was told by the front desk that I would have to speak with the manager, Mr. Darrel Russell.  Mr. Russell was extremely accommodating, professional and courteous.  As you can image many guests were on edge waiting for their power to be restored.  I noticed that Mr. Russell made a point of conversing with guests in various settings to ensure that they were enjoying their stay.  If one did not know that there was an entire county suffering a power outage and that the hotel had been sold out for days, you would have thought it was just another great day at Homewood Suites.  To me this says that Mr. Russell runs a great hotel.  In fact, I was almost disappointed when my power did come back on!

Homewood Suites is a fantastic value for the money.  Not only are the room accommodations outstanding, but add in the value of a complete breakfast and dinner.   The hotel itself is centrally located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.  Within a three block radius there is a movie theater, shopping and subway.  I noticed a variety of individuals, which included families and professionals.  This is a great location for tourists who want to see the National’s Capital.  The redline subway is very convenient for traveling to downtown DC. 

I recently traveled to New York in early June for a long weekend to take my husband away for his birthday.  I took the Bolt Bus (www.boltbus.com), which is a semi-new bus company that picks up on the Mezzanine Level of the Union Station Parking Deck at Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., in Washington, DC.  If you enter this facility from the front entry of Union Station, proceed through the Atrium past the food court until you see the escalators, proceed up the escalators to the mezzanine level, the staging area will be to your immediate left.  Parking is available at Union Station with entry located off of H Street, N.E, Washington, D.C.  We made reservations directly on Bolt’s website.  Our round-trip fare for two people was $67.  Wow..what a great deal!  In comparison Amtrak’s regular train would have cost $364.  Make sure to join their free “Bolt Rewards” program.  This program earns you a free one-way ticket after eight trips and priority boarding on current travel.  

A fifteen minute break is allowed at the rest stop in Delaware.  It was a breeze…no traffic, no tolls, nice comfortable seats.   I slept and read on the way up and back.  The driver will make a point of announcing not to disturb your neighbor with loud talking or music.  The passengers were a mixture of all age groups, singles, couples, families.  Bolt Bus has numerous travel times per day going and returning.  We left at 11:30 am (promptly I might add) and arrived at 3:45 pm, dropping off at 33^rd & 7^th Avenue.  This is an outdoor stop at the northeast corner of the intersection. The bus will stop in the designated bus stop area on 33rd Street in front of a Sbarro’s Italian restaurant

We walked to the Grand Hyatt on 42^nd Street (Midtown) Manhattan (109 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017). Grand Hyatt did not disappoint.  Their check-in was a breeze and the front desk was extremely pleasant.  Our room was on the 28^th floor.  The room was very spacious with contemporary décor and a large bathroom.  There was a nice mixture of leisure and business travelers, singles, families and couples.  The concierge gave excellent dinner recommendations and directions on the subway.  The Market (causal eatery) is situated in the hotel’s lobby.  They had a nice selection of foods and beverages.    The hotel is just a few steps from Grand Central Station.  We were able to catch the subway everywhere or walk.   I would definitely stay at the Grand Hyatt again and would recommend to my clients.

There is so much to do in New York, the possibilities are endless.  On Saturday there was a street fair going for blocks and blocks.  One of the Greek eateries had these huge chicken kebabs, with an aroma that you could smell as soon as you stepped outside….Yum!  Next to the Greek food stand, there was a food stand that made fruit smoothies.  The banana and strawberry were so good.  A little further down the block after eating all of that great food and drinking our smoothies was a massage stand.  I elected to have the foot massage and he the back massage.  Last, but not least, we stopped at a fruit stand and bought an unbelievable amount of fruit at an unbelievable low price for our room and topped it off with a bottle of wine.  Now, you tell me…what more could a girl ask for. 

We were lucky enough to secure great tickets to the Cotto/Foreman boxing match at Yankees Stadium.  I might add that this was at the new stadium and was the first boxing match to be held at Yankee Stadium in over 34 years.  What a great stadium!  We arrived early so we could walk around and take in the sights.  It just takes your breath away…if you’re a sports fan!  The subway is right across the street and so convenient.  We took the train to the Stadium and back.  It could not have been easier.  No car needed.

Reluctantly we walked on Monday to catch the Bolt Bus back to DC…our little getaway was over.  Once again, the Bolt Bus did not disappoint.  They had a company representative on hand to answer questions.  We grabbed a quick slice of pizza from Sbarro’s Italian restaurant (right at the bus waiting area) before we boarded the bus and were on our way.  The pizza was good and made for a nice sleep on the way back.

Once back in DC, the only glitch was the infamous Redline (ugh).  Oh well, don’t sweat the small stuff!

L. Wright

The Design Hotels (www.DesignHotels.com) recently hosted a sit down dinner at Hook Restaurant in the heart of Georgetown.  I had the honor of being an invitee to this wonderful event.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Design Hotels, they are an exclusive collection (170) of one-of-a-kind hotels scattered across the globe.  In order to earn the recognition of being a member of The Design Hotels, these hotels must pass very strict requirements.  The Design Group receives many applications each year for the pristine recognition of being under The Design Group, but only a select few of chosen.   The best way to describe this collection of hotels is to say they are fun, hip and modern.  Although it’s not just the furnishings that are cool, it’s the whole concept and attitude.     

I had the honor of meeting several hoteliers from around the globe.  These included representatives from London, England (Covent Garden, Charlotte Street, The Pelham, Knightsbridge, Number Sixteen, The Soho and Haymarket Hotels), Paris, France (Murano and Kube Hotels), Dublin, Ireland (The Morgan), Barcelona, Spain (Hotel Omm, Claris Hotel, and Granados 83), Madrid, Spain (Hotel Urban), Stockholm, Sweden (Nordic Light Hotel), and Brussels, Belgium (The Dominican).      

The Design event was a small and intimate affair allowing you the time to speak in depth with each hotelier.  This was unique and reflected the ideology and attitude of this Group.  I left feeling as though I had acquired new friends from across the globe.  This was not your average meet and greet.  And these are not your average hotels.  

It would be safe to say, that this assortment of hotels is much more suited to adults whether it be couples, singles, a girls or guy getaway.  My previous bookings at these properties have only received stellar reviews.         

So, guys and gals when you’re ready to venture out to awesome destinations and experience the warmth of luxurious and sexy accommodations, give me a ring…..   

I’ll be happy to assist.   

L. Wright

L. Wright is a Certified Travel Agent and co-owner of iTravel (an LLC registered in the State of Maryland).  Ms. Wright can be reached at information@iTravelTT.com.