Hayes Valley Inn, San Francisco, CA
Posted August 7, 2009 , add a comment
The Hayes Valley Inn is European-style pension.
Hayes Valley has emerged over the past decade to become a real gem of a San Francisco neighborhood. And we have the last big earthquake to thank for that.
What was once a dodgy, crime-ridden area with a sooty overpass running through it, is now a sweet enclave of boutiques, restaurants, cafes, galleries, open space, and some truly awesome jewelry and shoe stores.
Part of the fallout of the 1989 earthquake was the closure and demolition of the Fell Street on-ramp that dominated this central neighborhood west of Civic Center and east of Fillmore Street.
The owners of the Hayes Valley Inn also rightfully take some of the credit. They took over a dilapidated residence hotel (read: crack house) and turned it into a cozy, charming European-style pension.
Victorian-style rooms are all unique.
The 28 rooms on three floors each have sinks and vanities, two shared baths per floor are in the hallways. There are two common areas — a kitchen where a free Continental breakfast is served daily and the Ivy room, a comfortable, Victorian parlor with a corner turret looking out over the corner of Hayes and Gough streets. When I was there a French family was making tea and toast and eating fresh fruit in the little kitchen.
Rooms are small but quaint and clean, with antique furnishings. The lobby area and hallway could stand to a fresh carpet though, the carpet looked matted and dirty downstairs and had a discernible odor, which was a turnoff for me.
Rates are exceptionally reasonable, ranging from $76 to $112 with breakfast and free wi-fi. Management is warm and accommodating making guests feel welcome.
The Hayes Valley neighborhood is a great place to shop and offers much in the way of cuisine — from the higher end like Absinthe and Bar Jules to more affordable choices like Frj tz, Stacks and Paxti’s pizzeria.
Affordable and comfortable Hayes Valley Inn.
Hayes Valley Inn
417 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(800) 930-7999
Photos by Lisa Dion
Chicago area Hyatt Regency O’Hare Airport Hotel
Posted , add a commentPosted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip
Hyatt Regency O’Hare photo by Nancy D. Brown
I was using my Frequent Flyer miles to travel from San Francisco to Chicago, Illinois. As such, I wouldn’t be landing at O’Hare Airport until 1:30 in the morning. At least it was a non-stop flight. I checked my bag (on-line because it’s $4 cheaper) with United Airlines and boarded the plane. I’d like to give a personal shout out to Michael Lawson at the Hyatt Reservations call center for helping me with this reservation. Much better alternative than sleeping on the floor at the airport!
Fast forward to the baggage carousel where all the luggage from the direct flight had been claimed, except my bag. You guessed it, my duffel bag was no where to be found.
Shuffling off to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Airport shuttle bus, I told myself that my bag would be waiting for me at the hotel in the morning. The Hyatt set me up with a comb, toothpaste and toothbrush and off I went to room 2806, tired and flustered.
Hyatt O
I picked the Hyatt Regency O’Hare location for its proximity to the airport and because they offered a complimentary shuttle that runs 24/7. If you live in the area, you may be interested in their Park, Sleep and Fly “Explore” package. The promotion includes parking for up to 14 days free and runs until December 30, 2009.
Hyatt Regency O’Hare Gets a Facelift
The property has recently undergone a $64 million transformation in all of their 1,096 guest rooms. I appreciated the noon checkout time and the comfort of the Hyatt Grand Bed with the pillow-top mattress. My Regency Suite room rented for $480, not including internet access. There was Wi-Fi available in all of the public areas.
Lost Luggage Tips
My luggage still hadn’t shown up the next day. I left a note with the front desk with my next hotel address, said a little prayer and walked to the Blue Line to take the train to downtown Chicago. I’ve since written a post on lost luggage tips on my website.
Hyatt Regency O’Hare 1 (847) 696-1234
9300 W Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018
The Beaches of Elba, Elba, Italy, Europe
Posted , add a commentOnce upon a time I was young and on Elba. It was the summer of 1998; people were just starting to worry about Y2K and the supposed apocalypse, at least of their computers; I was about to graduate with a Master’s degree in English with which I had no idea what to do. My boyfriend and I lived as if we were in a Hemingway novel but without the war or any of the heartache. Without the general malaise, really. We were just young and drank a lot. We traveled Europe and wore plastic jellies on the beach. His were clear and mine were pink. The water was turquoise and of all the places we went to that summer, Elba had the best beaches.
That one summer I was young.
With over 70 different beaches, the 27km long island of Elba has something for every beach-goer. Located in the middle of the Tuscan Archipelago Marine Park, the island of Elba can be reached by just an hour’s ferry ride from Piombino on the western coast of Italy. The island has an area of 200 square km and a coastline of 147 km, continuously alternating between gentle slopes and sheer cliffs, the beaches themselves varying between jagged rocks best for jumping into the water and smooth sand ideal for siestas. With Mount Capanne at the island’s apex more than a thousand meters high, Elba offers a territory rich in hidden corners to explore with both marine and mountain panoramas. The island is well prepared for tourism (on Elba there are about: 200 hotels, 50 residences, 30 camping sites, and 30 farm house inns). The number of residents on the island is a little more than twenty thousand.
Clear water. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24716098@N06/2345340932/
It would be impossible to choose just one beach on Elba. There are so many, each so different and yet each singularly stunning. While most beaches are free to the public, there are establishments on the main beaches that offer rental umbrellas, changing rooms, and sun loungers. The swimming here is fabulous–the water warm and clear. Bear in mind that the depth of most of the waters increases rather rapidly, with the exception of la Biodola, Marina di Campo, Lacona and Procchio where the water remains shallow for up to 30-40 metres.
The view from a vacation. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22266840@N00/53736988/
These days I I live in Northern California where I usually have to wear a sweatshirt to the beach. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up but I think back to that summer I spent on Elba with wonder: The spectacular beauty of the beaches, the naivete with which we rode a Vespa along sheer cliffs, the fact that my boyfriend who is now my husband wore plastic jelly sandals at all.
Muir Beach, Marin County, California
Posted , add a commentNorthern California beaches can usually be classified as one of two types: large wild expanses of dunes and ice plants, Great Beaches, if you will, and smaller beaches nestled between cliffs, great in their own right. Muir Beach is one such smaller beach, a strip of coastline south of the Point Reyes National Seashore.
View from the south end. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatmandy/3189241742/
Located just off 101 north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Beach is 6 winding miles from the Hwy 1 exit. Nestled in a coastal valley at the edge of Mount Tamalpais, the small “town” of Muir Beach is comprised of 150 homes, the nearby Muir Woods National Monument, Green Gulch Farm/Zen Center, Slide Ranch and, of course the “old” English Pub, The Pelican Inn. There is a medium sized dirt parking lot that is rarely full, and one must walk across a small bridge and a wooden walkway over the lagoon to get to the beach. The area is rife with wildlife: butterflies, deer, frogs, salmon, fox, coyote, and yes–sharks Great White and otherwise have been spotted in the water here.
Shark carcass decaying on the rocks. http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangejoshuas/3345107157/
The beach itself is usually filled with families: kids and birthday parties, boogie boarders, teenagers, some surfers. Down the beach to the right a few hundred yards is the unofficial nude beach. Here there are obviously naked people, but there are also excellent tide pools and some very friendly seals that like to warm themselves on the sand. (The seals are also nude, you see.)
Muir Beach offers a range of very basic amenities: pit toilets, water, trash cans and picnic tables are all located at the south end of the parking lot. Fires are permitted in fire rings only, three of which are on the beach toward the south end. Pets are allowed, albeit on leashes to protect wildlife.
Top 10 Best Massages at a Spa Resort or Lodge
Posted July 22, 2009 , add a commentPosted by Nancy D. Brown
Shibui Spa in Sisters, Oregon
I’m the first to admit that I love a good massage. In fact, if I won the lottery, I’d have a massage once a month; once a week if it was the super-lotto. But I don’t play the lottery, so I splurge on a massage whenever I can.
Here are some of my favorite lodging properties where I have experienced wonderfully relaxing massages:
Aurora Hotel and Spa Certified Massage Therapist Lavina Jones works out of the Aurora Hotel and Spa on Southern California’s Catalina Island. Her speciality massage combines aroma therapy with Swedish massage and finishes with hot river stones and warm towels.
Bernardus Lodge and Winery provides a relaxing place to unwind and recharge in Carmel Valley, California. The Spa at Bernardus Lodge offers services from vinotherapy and marine-inspired, to international treatment techniques. While you’re there, visit the spa’s meditation garden, warming room, and soaking pool.
Carnival Splendor a floating resort on the sea, offers a 21,000 square foot, two level spa and gym facility. The Thalassotherapy Pool features jets of water that massage your body and a special formulation of ocean water. If you splurge for a Cloud 9 Spa Stateroom, you’ll have access to the special pool and Theramal Suite, in addition to two complimentary fitness classes and priority spa appointment bookings.
Five Pine Lodge in Sisters, Oregon is also home to Shibui Spa. I had the Thai Bandle massage, heated Maja Bandles, filled with lemon grass and other herbs are steamed and used as heated compresses during the massage. Guests leave with a suggestion card for using the herbal compress with a Metta Mantra on the other side of the card.
Metta Mantra
May I be safe
May I be happy
May I be healthy
May I be peaceful
May I be filled with loving-kindness
Spa Gaia in the Napa Valley is connected to the eco-friendly Gaia Hotel. I tried the Ayurvedic Hot Stone massage and it was wonderful. After filling out a short survey, my dosha (natural constitution) was determined and the relaxing massage began.
After a day of horseback riding at Riochet Ridge Ranch, I was in need of a massage. Fortunately the Third Court Salon and Day Spa is located on the Little River Inn property. I have plenty of recommendations on places to visit, stay and dine in Mendocino.
Visitors to southern Napa can check out the 9,000 square foot underground Spa Terra and try the cave stone massage. Pardon the pun; this massage rocked! If you are a guest at Meritage, you are welcome to use the spa facilities, including the hot tub, complete with water wall, until closing time.
Sheraton Maui Spa at Black Rock
For an outdoor massage experience with the privacy of a treatment room, The Sheraton Maui’s Spa at Black Rock is Kaanapali Beaches’ newest addition. The Mango Pomegranate signature line of products smell entoxicating.
While not on property at Sonoma’s Inn at Occidental, the Osmosis Day Spa in nearby Freestone, California offers a unique spa experience. Now that I’ve tried it, I can say that I am not a fan of the cedar enzyme bath, but the massage was first-rate.
On a recent trip to Lugano, Switzerland, I experienced my first water massage at Villa Sassa Hotel and Spa. The Aurum Spa offers the Mare massage on a bed of colored water reproducing the effect of the vibrant blue shoreline.
Photos by Nancy D. Brown
