On Our Radar: Vegas Pools

Well at least one place in the country is getting good weather these days--many pools in Vegas have opened, 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Until the much-anticipated Liquid, the adult-only pool lounge and restaurant at Aria and the new Encore Beach Club at the Encore open later this summer, we suggest cooling your heels at the Wet Republic at MGM Grand, which opens today. It features eight pools, DJ's, an underwater sound system, and cabanas with flat screen TV's.

Read more about the new opening to the Vegas Pool Scene and our past favorites. And find out why Vegas is the place to be for the rest of March.

On Our Radar: Teetotum Hotel in Tulum

One of our fave hairstylists just got back from a trip to the Teetotum Hotel in Tulum Mexico and raved about the tiny four room inn. What did she like about it? Top on the list was the friendly staff who went out of their way to make sure she had everything she and her friends needed. She also said that the rooms were large and comfortably decorated --beach-y yet modern with iPod docks and Wi-Fi. While the hotel isn't right on the beach, it offers free bicycles for the short ride.

She raved about the food too, saying it was ridiculously good for the price. Beers and mango margaritas were about $1 and $3 respectively!

We've long been fans of the Riviera Maya for its convenience to the east coast--a non stop flight to Cancun, then a short cab ride and you're in heaven!

Rates at the Teetotum Hotel start at $85 a night.

On Our Radar: Wilmington, N.C.

photo courtesy of activerain.com

We took a quick trip through North Carolina this week on a whim to visit a friend recently transplanted to Fort Bragg.  We chose Wilmington literally because it was the closest beachtown to the base.  We were so thrilled with our trip, we're looking for ways to squeeze another visit before the end of the summer.  You may know Wilmington from One Tree Hill,  Dawson's Creek or any number of other movies and shows that are filmed there.  We loved that it's a vibrant city (not your regular run down, salty beach town) with a university, culture, shopping, restaurants, and mostly because it's only a stone's throw from the soft, white sand beaches.

We haven't made it to Cabo or Costa Rica yet for an all women's surf camp; but Wrightsville Beach has its own school and it's much more accessible for East Coast girls.  The surf and yoga retreat is a six day program that includes lodging, daily yoga and surf lessons, breakfast,lunches and more.

We had a great dinner at Bluewater Grill.  If you go ask for a seat outside with views of the yacht club and order the crab dip to start. It also has a great bar on the patio if you're looking for night spot.

There's tons of upscale shopping in Wilmington.  We had a weak moment at Monkee's of Wilmington, where they had a huge selection of Pour la Victoire, Tory Burch, and DVF sandals and booties. 

If we go back, we'd likely rent an oceanside cottage and bring a group of friends. We'd love to hear your recommendations and favorite spots in Wilmington!

On Our Radar: Beach Shack Cape May, New Jersey

The new, younger hipper sister to Congress Hall, the Beach Shack in Cape May, New Jersey, doesn't put on any airs. It's a revamped motel and -- as the name suggests -- the rooms aren't luxurious, but they are comfortable, serviceable and clean according to reviewers on TripAdvisor.com.

Stay at this new 65 room property for its oceanfront views, firepit and almost nightly bands (lots of reggae) at the on-site bar and restaurant, the Rusty Nail. Need another reason to go? The Rusty Nail is where all the lifeguards and surfers hang out in Cape May. Ca-ching!

On Our Radar: Seeing the City from Your Bike

We figured out long ago that one of the easiest ways to see a city is on two wheels.  There's less traffic in bike lanes, no taxi or train fare, and it's great exercise.  You also don't miss anything because it's going by too fast or because your feet are too tired. We've both scoured our home towns of NY and DC of course; but more recently Anne was in Montreal and Hope in Chicago and both spent a day in the saddle.

Hope started her ride at the Hotel Sax and headed towards Millennium Park.  She rode her own bike; but you can rent them throughout the city with Bike Chicago. The newish park is home to the gorgeous Pritzger Music Pavilion (eat your heart out Jiffy Lube Live)

and the psychedelic bean (aka Cloud Gate); both of which pose brilliantly for your camera.  She stopped by the Festa Italia to feel out the fancy cars. 

From there she headed up the shore past Navy Pier, through the throngs at North Avenue Beach.  Chicago's beach goers were looking good on this sunny Saturday, even if towel space was at a minimum.

And finished up at Wrigley Field.  Sadly, the game was already in the 8th inning and with the score as it was, headed to the Cubby Bear across the street for some beer with some super happy locals. 

No bike? No problem if you're staying at a Fairmont or the Tribeca Grand in New York, which are among the many hotels that offer their guests bikes.

On Our Radar: Borgata

I’ve been going to Atlantic City since I was a child.  As I grew up, it became the perfect girls weekend getaway (especially for concerts and shows).  While I have stayed in almost all the hotels on the Boardwalk, The Borgata is by far my favorite when it comes to luxury, amenities and entertainment!

The Accommodations
Last year we stayed at the Borgata and this year we chose to switch it up and stay at their Water Club tower (above) for Memorial Day Weekend.  The water theme is evident throughout all the design and décor.  What stood out the most were the bright teal sheets on the beds.  You get so accustomed to standard, bleached white bedding, that the burst of color was a refreshing and comforting change.  Our room even had great views of the bay and boats in the marina, keeping with the water theme.

Service was excellent also.  One of our favorite things about The Borgata is that you have to show your room key at the elevators ensuring only those who are staying overnight have access to the rooms. The friendly staff took every opportunity to ensure we were enjoying our stay.

The Spa
Our goal for the weekend was to do as much as possible – without ever leaving the hotel.  We spent Saturday morning getting massages as Spa Toccare.  Many other people must have had similar plans as the spa was hustling with women coming and going.  The three of us got the standard aromatherapy massage and left the spa feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and smelling like lemon, orange and pomegranate.  The heated tables and relaxing music made the massage experience even more enjoyable.  We especially liked that all fees and gratuity were included when you paid upon arrival.  (Insider’s tip:  Ask for Gio, he was an amazing massage therapist!)

The Entertainment
It was a concert that brought us to Atlantic City and we can’t say enough good things about the Event Center venue.  The intimate size and general admission set-up allows for great views no matter where you’re standing.

The above picture with the stage curtain in the background shows how close we were to all the action.

After the concert we headed over to one of our favorite clubs, MIXX.  Soon after turning 21 my girlfriends and I enjoyed a fun night at MIXX so the nightclub has always had a special place in my heart.

The DJ played a great mix of music, the lines at the bar were manageable and security spends a lot of time managing crowd control which provided us enough room to dance the night away.  We got there early on a Friday and there wasn’t a long line, but we’ve seen the line curve around the entire casino, so be sure to plan accordingly.

The Food
Last but not least, The Borgata offers a ton of places to eat.  We sampled casual dining options at The Borgata Buffet, Bread & Butter and our personal favorite, The Metropolitan (get the Cobb Salad!).

One piece of advice -- if you’d like to have Internet access over the weekend, be sure to pack your laptop.  The business center is only open on weekdays (we found this out the hard way).

We’re already looking forward to our next stay.  Fingers crossed the future holds some nicer weather for us so that we can fully check out the indoor and outdoor pools.

Written by JSG contributor Samara Finn.

On Our Radar: Chicago

We're off to Chicago for a last minute trip.  While searching for a reasonable plane fare has been painful, choosing which hotel has been a lot more fun.  Chicago has choices ranging from luxury, like the Peninsula, to bargain; but we usually go for something in between.  So far here's what we've found:

We featured the Hotel Sax (above) on our Memorial Day countdown because of its summer baseball package for only $169. It's bound to have character as it's part of the Thompson Hotel Group and next to the Marina City playground with the House of Blues, Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, 10Pin Bowling Lounge, and Bin 36 restaurant.

Our twitter friend @iheartheels recommended the Whitehall Hotel because it's right off the Magnificient Mile and has super comfy beds (the beds are high on our priority list!). 

Kimpton's newest Chicago outpost is the Hotel Palomar, we'll definitely swing by for a tour, whether or not we're guests.  Our friend, Sarah, told us the Sable Restaurant and Bar makes amazing hand crafted cocktails, so put that on our to-do list too!

Are we missing your favorite Chicago hotel?  Please share!

On Our Radar: Hotel Thrillist Miami

While you're reading this, we're on our flight for the Hotel Thrillist Miami weekend. We'll be staying at the Fontainebleau, which we've been wanting to check out since its redo last year. Our friends who have stayed there have raved about the gorgeousness of the hotel. It's high time we check it out for ourselves!

The weekend includes plenty of pool time, a Friday night beachside dinner followed by an after party at Liv where DJ Ruckus will be spinning. Saturday kicks off with yoga on the beach, courtesy of Exhale, followed by DJing and mixology lessons, a poolside concert by DJ Elle and the House of Jackie Brown and Miami Night at Red, the Steakhouse's rooftop terrace. Sunday, you'll find us enjoying the hair of the dog that bit us at the barista breakfast.

Keep an eye out for our tweets!

On Our Radar: New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience is May 26th through 29th.  It features tastings, speeches and dinners and seminars

Highlights for us would be the Royal Street Stroll on Thursday which combines jazz, art, antiques, wine and food for an evening of tasting and shopping. We're not sure why these ladies were wearing togas at a previous year's stroll; but it looks fun!

The Riedel seminar: we did this on the Oasis cruise a couple of years ago and Max Riedel taught me that size and shape make a difference, in wine glasses that is.

Wine Lovers Musical: we're strangely curious about this audience participation show that combines wine tasting and musical numbers. 

Stay at the Hotel Montelione where Anne stayed for "Tales of the Cocktail" or the W New Orleans, because we always have a fun time at a W.

On Our Radar: Montreal

In case our other Memorial Day Travel Ideas weren't quite European enough in feel for you, here's another idea: Head north across the border to Montreal. With the cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés and French speaking natives, you'll think you hopped the pond and are in France. We're heading there ourselves next week, so will report back with the full scoop on what's new and not to be missed.

We're most looking forward to the shopping, including the Unicorn Boutique, which houses smaller designers not found frequently in the states, including Eve Gravel (shown), and  Harricana by Mariouche, which features creations made of recycled furs.

We'll be staying at the Opus Hotel, conveniently located at the corner of Rue Sherbrooke and Boulevard Saint-Laurent. We first became a fan of the Opus after touring the equally chic Vancouver property years ago.

We'll be in Montreal May 20-24. Follow our tweets from our trip at JSGAnne.

On Our Radar: The First Armani Hotel

The first Armani Hotel opened his first hotel in Dubai this week. Situated in the world's tallest building, Giorgio Armani designed everything from the furnishings to the menus to the amenities.

“It has long been my dream to have a hotel in which I myself would like to stay and entertain family and friends, where the Armani aesthetic is combined with Italian-style warmth and hospitality. I am thrilled to open the doors of the Armani Hotel Dubai and invite my guests in to experience my world," said Armani. He also told WWD about the hotel's design, "This is a place where you have to find your way. It's an adventure."

When guests check in they're assigned a Lifestyle Manager --a supercharged concierge -- who makes sure every aspect of their stay within the hotel and in Dubai is fulfilling including: business arrangements, shopping, restaurants and entertainment.

Book your stay at http://www.armanihotels.com/.

See where else Mr. Armani is planning on opening hotels.

On Our Radar: Vacations for Women Whose Husbands Cheated

Here's a special from The Reef Resort in Grand Cayman that's tailor made for any woman who has suffered the same fate as Sandra Bullock, Elin Woods and Ginny Barber: The Cheat’en Husbands respite package. Included is a Men Are Pigs’cocktail (we hope that's a fancy name for bottomless tequila shots), a mani and pedi and  a T-shirt painting therapy workshop, where suggested slogans are “men are scum,” “cheat’en is for losers.”

The package includes a four-night stay for four in a two-bedroom beachfront suite and a jeep rental. Prices start at $445 per person during the summer season and $595 per person during the winter season.

Word of warning: The hotel also offers romance, honeymoon and wedding packages, so you may be better off sticking with Vegas!

On Our Radar: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton to Enter Hotel Market

LVMH Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy is planning to build two luxury resorts, one each in Egypt and Oman. LVMH follows in the footsteps of Giorgio Armani whose Dubai hotel was scheduled to open March 28th. We only wish they were a little bit closer. Word has it that Armani's next hotel will open in Milano- a dream destination if you love great clothes, leather goods, and food (who doesn't?). Then Armani is expanding to Marrakech and possibly NYC. We hope to visit one of these exclusive properties so we can report back how they've refected their style in the design, service and hotel experience.

As for Louis Vuitton, we're curious who they'll get to pitch the new hotels. We'd love to see Madge be part of the campaign!

On Our Radar: The Opening of the New Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles

The Ritz-Carlton L.A. opens today and is the cherry-on-top to the L.A. Live development which began with the Staples Center a decade ago.  The Ritz-Carlton is perched on top of its sister property, the JW Marriot, and features:

An exclusive rooftop pool and lounge with private cabanas and seating available day and night

An 8,000 square foot spa with a "Champagne and Shimmer" theme with treatments that include the Glowing Gold Facial and the Champagne and Citrus Scrub

Wolfgang Puck's new WP24 restaurant featuring Asian dishes and floor to ceiling windows with geat views

A 2,000 square foot fitness center 

And, our personal fave, the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge

On Our Radar: Vieques, Puerto Rico

It's on our must-go list for 2010 and now it's time! The W Vieques Retreat and Spa opened yesterday. We still haven't seen any official photos of the property, but the beach and those crystal clear waters, above, are reason enough to go. And the renderings are pretty seductive, too. That's the Living Room bar below.

and a Mega guest room. Even the smaller--and smallest that the W Vieques offers--Wonderful rooms are an impressive 560 square feet.

You can snorkel, dive, surf, kayak and more on the secluded island, that's a short plane flight from San Juan. Just how secluded is the island? Visitors weren't allowed on from World War II until 2003 when it was a U.S. naval base. And only 3 percent of Caribbean travelers had ever even heard of it. So just imagine how pristine those beaches are!

Foodies will love the Alain Ducasse Mix restaurant. Here's hoping it lives up to the hype better than Mr. Chow's did at the W South Beach.

The W Vieques has a special Who's the Ulitmate Insider Package for travel before June 1 that includes a room for $289/night and two cocktails in the W Airport Lounget. For another option, book the  Worldwide Wow Package before 5/1. Included in the WWP package are:

• 2 Welcome Cocktails in W Lounge
 at the airport
• Daily breakfast at miX on the beach

• Sunset Champagne Ritual for 2
• Baba au Rhum – A signature Alain Ducasse dessert

• Exclusive Jane Marvel for W Retreat and Spa ‘Sunshine’ beach bag

• Upgrade to a Mega room

On Our Radar: Alice In Wonderland at NYC's Dream Hotel

While the movie has gotten mixed reviews, we think the Alice in Wonderland Package at NYC's Dream ( shown below) or Night Hotel still sound like a hoot.

Included in the package are:

• Two tickets to Alice in Wonderland at IMAX theater
• Two tickets to the MoMA Tim Burton exhibition  
• Alice in Wonderland themed playing cards
• Copy of the books Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
• Adult Tea-party turn-down service

Pricing starts at $277 + tax for one night, or $426 + tax for two nights.

On Our Radar: Grand Opening of the Distrikt Hotel NYC

We're excited to check out the Distrikt Hotel which recently opened and honors New York City.  Each of the Distrikt Hotel's floors pays homage to a different neighborhood in Manhattan such as: Chelsea, Soho, the Lower East Side, and Tribeca.  The neighborhoods encompass three floors each starting downtown with the Financial District and ending in Harlam on the top floors.  They are represented by backlit collages from artist Chris Rubino on each floor.  You can even request a neighborhood where you would like to stay.

The hotel's great location Midtown on West 40th between 8th and 9th Avenues is easy walking to shows, shopping and good eats.

 

Chris Rubino's Midtown West

Special guest accomodations include extra thick window glass to keep out the sounds from Broadway below, Frette linens and robes, free WIFI, iPod/iPhone docking stations, a 37" LG flatscreen tv, and free overnight shoeshines.

 

Chris Rubino's Lower East Side

On Our Radar: Mardi Gras- Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!

Fat Tuesday is February 16th and the Bacchus parade, considered the grandest of parades, is Sunday night. If you're thinking of heading to New Orleans this year for Mardi Gras but haven't made hotel reservations yet, you're not alone.  After the Saints big win in Sunday's Superbowl, we bet tons of people are itching to hit the Big Easy. Our recommendation is to call around, because there are bound to be a few free hotel rooms and cancellations.

A couple of tips for Mardi Gras:
Expect to see some crazy in the French Quarter. This isn't stuff of urban legends- our friends still talk about the hunk of a man they saw walking in the Quarter with an outfit made of only 5 leather straps or the Elizabeth Taylor drag queen who was biting off chunks of Velveeta.

Want to join the fun? Expect to see lots of flashing, concentrated but not limited to the parade routes.  Don't be shy, you only live once, we may have done some of this ourselves in college.

Debauchery is intrinsic to the celebration, in fact, Fat Tuesday refers to indulging in rich food before lent which begins the next day.  That of course includes drinking.  We can't stress enough that it's a good idea to party in numbers and keep an eye out for each other.  

Here are our picks for places to stay if you can score a room.  Check out the W Hotel French Quarter (pictured above) with its great location, pet-friendly policy, outdoor courtyard pool and lobby lounge. The Mega Rooms (below) have patios on the courtyard:

Or the Hotel Monteleone where Annie stayed for Tales of the Cocktail last summer. It's rumored to be one of America's premiere haunted hotels, Annie didn't see any, although she did experience plenty of ghosts of cocktails past.  The Monteleone also boasts a long list of literary notables that called its rooms home for a spell including Truman Capote, Wm. Faulkner, Anne Rice and John Grisham.  Ernest Hemingway wrote about the revolving Carousel Bar (pictured below):