Indianapolis Marriott North - location, location, location!

We stayed here for a wedding weekend, and the first and best thing I have to say about this hotel is that the location is AWESOME, especially for a wedding weekend. There's tons of shopping, restaurants, etc. It's a pretty good trek from the airport though, so you'll want to take that into account.

That being said, let's talk about the hotel. The pros:
-Staff is incredible and very friendly. We had a really late arrival, and they let us take beverages from the mini-mart downstairs at no charge. (It's the little things.)
-Housekeeping was incredibly understanding and helpful when we needed our room cleaned later due to the wedding festivities. They were kind, patient, and friendly whenever we ran into them.
-The rooms are large, comfortable, and the beds were soft. It was like sinking into a cloud.
-The pool/workout area offers water.
-Free parking at a full-service property!!
-We rarely heard our neighbors, if at all.

The "eh":
-The rooms are dated and even though the rooms have been renovated, they still seem dated, and I could see a lot of water damage on our room.
-Our toilet didn't seem to have enough water pressure to flush correctly, and we had to hold it down multiple times. The shower water pressure wasn't that great either, and we were on a lower floor.
-Our door didn't shut completely. Several times we thought we had pulled it closed, and we would come back to find it ajar. Not sure if it was our error, housekeeping, or a combination, but it was a little alarming, to say the least.
-CNN didn't seem to work or be included with the cable package - it was a constant car commercial.

The rooms overlooking the lake were really peaceful, and we would have liked to have one. :) Overall, at a lower rate, I think this hotel is a great value. It's not as nice as some full-service properties, but it is a lot nicer than older Courtyards or Fairfield Inns, and the rate was pretty comparable. I'd go back based on the location and the lake if I had business in the area.

Almyra Hotel -- Paphos, Cyprus

I stayed at the Almyra while attending a wedding of a friend that took place on the property in late November. As tourist season had recently ended, we often felt as if we had the resort to ourselves. Be sure and try the Cypriot walnut specialty offered during check-in – it’s unusual, but very tasty. We had booked a terrace sea view room, and I’m glad we did. We were on the third floor, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. Large picture windows looked out on the sea, and we could open the sliding doors and let the sea breeze in. Rooms were nicely appointed, though I truthfully didn’t notice the TV. We were so busy, it didn’t seem necessary. The bathroom had WONDERFUL products that smelled heavenly. Be sure and take them home with you! Our rate included breakfast, and the options were endless. Everything was fresh and tasty – I couldn’t believe the assortment. Eggs, sausages, fresh yogurts, fruits, nuts – absolutely anything you could desire. I’ve never seen a ‘free’ breakfast like that anywhere in the States. We often didn’t need lunch, because breakfast was so filling. The hotel also handled the catering for the wedding dinner, and everything was WONDERFUL. There was a chocolate torte that was out of this world! We also had a rooftop wine reception, and the appetizers served were very tasty. Everything Alymra does, they do well.

The pool area was so relaxing and peaceful. There are semi-private cabanas and plenty of comfortable areas to lounge in. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t anywhere to sit down by the sea, but the pool overlooks the sea, and the setting is just beautiful.

There were two computers in the lobby available for internet use at no charge. A very nice amenity.

The girls who work in the Toni and Guy salon were so bubbly, friendly, and helpful. They did a great job styling the wedding party.

Everyone we encountered at the hotel was friendly, eager to please, and proud of their country. They were always helpful to provide recommendations, information on the area, and assist with any requests. The service was truly unparalleled, and the wedding weekend went so smoothly, and everything was absolutely lovely.

The hotel is well-located – a short walk from the Paphos Harbor and within walking distance of several restaurants and shops. We liked Café Vienna and the sushi restaurant across from Alymra. For coffee addicted Americans, there is a Starbucks nearby. The old city center is a short bus ride away, and the hotel staff is happy to assist with those directions. We enjoyed the market, but it packs up early Saturday afternoons.

Overall, we had a wonderful stay, made even better by the welcoming staff and their attention to detail. No complaints here.

Paddling my kayak alone, London Day 2

Saturday morning, I woke up feeling well rested and ready to take on another day in London. First order of business: a memory card! I decided to head to Piccadilly Circus, because I figured I would be able to find something there since the tourists are out in droves. I found an independently owned photo shop, and I chatted it up with the owner. He knew my camera and told me a lot of things about it – then he showed me what he had in the way of memory cards. 40 pounds later, I had a 2 gig memory card. OUCH. I have learned to never make that mistake again.

However, he was a kind soul, and I felt better patronizing a local business. He even took a couple of pictures of me with my camera to show some different features and lighting.

My second stop was, of course, Leicester Square, for Saturday evening theater tickets. Again, I got hosed, lol. They advertised the tickets as being discounted, but the price I paid was higher than the face value. GRRRRR. I ended up with tickets to Sister Act, which was schedule to open a week later at the Palladium theater – another massive theater by London standards. I did get a good seat though – row L, front and center.

My third stop was Waterstones books, on a mission for the lovely Julie. Her daughter, Ava, loves the Ladybug books, and apparently they are really expensive in the US. They are 2-3 pounds in the UK, so Julie sent me a laundry list of the books she wanted for Ava. Two stores later, I had collected all of them. I decided to wander down Oxford Street to get back to my hotel, and there was a festival going on for the release of Night at the Museum. It was crazy! There was a parade and vendors and TONS of people. It was fun to see how caught up it everyone got, though it made navigating the streets a little difficult.

From there, I dropped off the books at the hotel and decided to head to Kensington Palace and Gardens. I had walked through this area on my first trip to London and embracing my inner nostalgia, I decided to head back. It was a beautiful day in London, and I wanted to be outside, soaking it all up! The gardens were BEAUTIFUL, and I loved photographing the beautiful flowers. There were also a few sweet old couples muttering sweet nothings to each other, so I just sat and watched. What a beautiful moment to share. You just wonder what their stories are and how they ended up there, too. At least, I do. ;-) I did spend quite a bit of time trying to stay far, far away from the bees though. They were out in numbers! I guess they enjoy beautiful weather, too.

I headed back to the hotel to rest my feet and get ready for the show. I always have a hard time remembering that London has a 7:30 curtain time for most shows. I headed down Regent Street to find an Italian restaurant that was written up in my guidebook, but I couldn’t find the side street for the life of me. I decided to see what was around the Palladium, and guess what I found? Wait for it… Bella Italia, again. I realized that I was probably bordering on the absurd visiting the same restaurant again, but they had outdoor seating and I knew the food was good. So, away I went. I did decide to order something different this time – I ordered their pizza, and it was excellent! Light and tasty, just like Italy! After dinner, I had a bit of time to kill, so I headed to the Apple store to check my email for free and ponder the beautiful iMac.

Sister Act was absolutely nothing like the movie with none of the same music – that was disappointing. BUT, as a standalone show, it was AWESOME. The cast was PHENOMENAL. The woman who played Delores, played by Patina Miller, had a set of pipes. She was SO talented. She is going to go FAR, trust me. It was a really fun show with beautiful sets and costumes, though it was inappropriate in the way that only British musicals can be inappropriate. It worked though – the show was excellent. I don’t know if it will make it to Broadway or not, but the London theatre scene LOVED it. They were on their feet before curtain calls even started. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a show that was as well received as Sister Act. The notable exception being Guys and Dolls, but the critics HATED that. It may not have any humdingers, but it’s still an entertaining show, once.

After the musical, I boarded a bus for Westminster Abby for my evening photo rounds. Unfortunately, I seemed to get off at the wrong stop, so I had quite a trek. Luckily, I know my way around fairly well, and I managed to get over there. I spent awhile taking pictures of Big Ben, wandering on both sides of Westminster Bridge. A guy and I made eyes at each other, but I started to get uncomfortable, so I headed off. He was probably a nice enough lad, but I was just dubious. I’m so not that girl. I don’t do well with it, at all.

I hopped on a bus shortly after midnight to head back to the hotel, knowing that the fountains at Trafalgar Square usually turn off at midnight. I stopped again at the Tesco Station and bought chocolate to enjoy back in my room. When I arrived at the hotel, there was clearly a big event going on – men in tuxes and women in the most gorgeous evening gowns I’ve ever seen. I pondered going to sit in the hotel bar and people watching, but I decided I really didn’t have the appropriate attire, so I retired for the night. Another beautiful day in London… and beautiful men before bed to boot! ;-)

Paddling my kayak alone, London 2009

This was my second trip to London this year, and I ended up paddling my kayak alone, as Mary Beth had plans to visit a spa for the bank holiday weekend, and no one else wanted to come with me. I had originally planned a trip to Copenhagen, but when AA offered their DEQM promotion again, I changed my ticket and headed to London town.

I ran by DFW early Thursday morning to check about an upgrade. No dice. I headed back to the airport around 4:00 that afternoon and asked about standing by for the 7:15pm flight. No standbys on international flights. (It's worth asking, right?) So, I headed to Reata for dinner, bought a day pass for the Admirals Club, and settled in for a couple hours of reading and email checking in the lounge.

Head down to the gate around 8:00pm. See my name on the upgrade list. Go ask agent if it's my name. She confirms it is and says they really need my seat. Asks me how I'd like to pay. I offer up the least expensive option -- denied. My ticket is booked into a different class. I offer up cold, hard cash. Denied. It's $5600. I mention the six magic words. She smiles, hands me my new boarding pass, and I'm on my way. No cash left my pocket. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.


We boarded around 8:30, and I settled into my biz seat, visions of being able to rest peacefully and waking up refreshed dancing in my head. I've said it once, I'll say it again. American Airlines' business class far eclipses the business class I experienced on United in February. The menu is better (though on this trip I only managed to barely stay away and enjoy my ice cream sundae), the IFE is exceptional, and the service is stellar. I cannot say enough good things about AA business class. The lie flat seats are comfortable, the blankets are soft on the skin, and the new amenity kits are GREAT! This girl has been converted to an AA flyer for life. They definitely have the superior product and service when it comes to AA vs. United.

As I said, I managed to stay away just long enough to enjoy an ice cream sundae before falling asleep. I can promise you we weren't even two hours in flight by the time I nodded off.

I woke up just in time for breakfast and I enjoyed my fresh fruit and yogurt before filling out my arrivals forms. We landed at Heathrow around lunchtime, which is a bit later than I like to start my day, but the sun was shining and within minutes I had boarded the Heathrow Express to Paddington.

Final Destination: Grosvenor House -- my favourite hotel in the world.

Mother/Daughter NYC Trip, Day One

Airline: American Airlines
Hotel: Doubletree Guest Suites, Times Square

My mom and I were originally booked on a 1:20 departure to LGA, but when we got to the airport at 11:45, our flight had already been delayed until after 2:00. The kiosk offered us a confirmed flight change on the 12:15 flight for $50, so we decided to take it, not knowing how late the other flight would eventually be delayed. This flight would get us into NYC around 4:40. Since we weren’t checking bags, this wasn’t a problem. We cleared security and ran off to SkyLink, since we were in the wrong terminal… of course.

The flight was boarding when we reached the gate, and we weren’t able to get seats together. However, we were on the flight, and that was all that mattered. I didn’t get lunch though, and since I had gotten up at 4:00 to go into the office that morning, I was pretty hungry. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to the bag of nuts I had packed in Mom’s bag either.

When we got to the airport, we called Carmel Car Service for our scheduled pick up. They were there promptly, and despite the fact we arrived during rush hour, the car service only cost us $24, thanks to the handy $4 off coupon that we got off their website. We were settling into our hotel well before 6:00, and I called Ruth’s Chris to see if we could move our dinner reservation up from 7:45, and they agreed, giving me a 6:45 slot.

We stayed the Doubletree Guest Suites in Times Square, and it is the most disappointing hotel we’ve stayed at in the Times Square area. We are regularly in NYC and have stayed at many hotels in the theater district and around Times Square. This hotel is extremely average in all categories, except for service. When we arrived, we were upgraded to a conference suite by a very friendly gentleman at the desk. All the staff was incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make us feel welcome in their hotel.

The room itself was very dated in decor, though they have upgraded the beds. The bathroom was large though, and the Neutrogena amenities were replaced every day. The windows offered a panoramic view of Times Square, and you could shut the lights out with the shades at night.

We had a drink in the lobby bar one night -- the drinks were good, but very pricey. $14 per drink is a little steep, even for New York. The lobby bar is beautiful, but as a previous poster mentioned, it's not private or secluded -- it's right in the middle of the check in/out madness and next to the elevators.

The elevators were faster than I expected, and we rarely had to wait very long for an elevator, even though we were on one of the higher floors.

The wi-fi was TERRIBLE while we were there. It faded in and out, and often didn't work at all during half of the stay. At $12.95/day, I expected better.

Overall, it's a pleasant enough stay at the right price, but had I paid the $3000 they were asking for New Year's Eve 2008, I would have been severely disappointed. However, it is not one of my favourite hotels in the area, and I don't know that I would return. The hotel is rather bland.

At any rate, we headed to Ruth’s Chris for dinner, and it was superb. The service was exceptional. This is the second time I’ve visited this location, and I’ve been impressed both visits. Mom ordered their prix fixe dinner with the tomato salad, a filet and shrimp, and a chocolate mousse and berry dessert. I ordered a petite filet au poirve and ate most of her dessert. I know it’s terribly cliché to go to New York and eat at a chain restaurant, but I have been wanting to take Mom to Ruth’s Chris for a LONG time, and I was craving their au poivre sauce.

After dinner, we walked back to the hotel. I tried to convince Mom that we should grab TKTS tickets and head to a show, but I was unsuccessful. We went back to the hotel and unwound for the night.