Bernardus Lodge - Carmel, CA

It's been a very long time since I last added any reviews so I will add what I can remember even if old :)

The Bernardus Lodge was, I would say, a lucky opportunity. We had decided to take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday (2008) to go away for a few days. We didn't want to go very far, definitely not fly, just go somewhere nice for a quiet "time out" from work. During one of my many online travel researches I found an excellent deal at The Bernardus Lodge in Carmel, so I booked it! I think it was $170/night while their regular rates start at around $400. The hotel is located a little away from the city center but a nice short drive away, 10 mins maybe? It has its own vineyard, very nice restaurant, spa, pool and our room was very nice and cozy. We had the best time! The hotel was very comfortable, with apple cider offered at the lounge at the end of the day and wine tasting in the evenings. In the room, they give as a gift a small (I think there were two) bottle of wine from their vineyard, a bag of chips and I think there was something else I can't remember. There were fresh pears in a basket and room service left a plate with crackers and pate for an afternoon snack.

Service was impeccable, everyone was very friendly and helpful. Breakfast wasn't the best, we found a better place in town but good enough.
I definitely want to go back! and recommend to anyone, couples, and families with children.

Sagamore Hotel - Miami, FL

SAGAMORE
THE ART HOTEL

Main door

I stayed at the Sagamore twice and really liked it. I think they need to keep better care of their furniture and details like paint and definitely lighting in the bathrooms but overall, a good hotel.

What I like best is the size of the hotel and its perfect location right on the beach. It is a relatively small hotel without feeling tight or cramped. The rooms are spacious enough, not too big with empty areas around the furniture, not tight and they are all suites with a dividing door between bedroom and sitting room/kitchen. I usually don't like suites with kitchens in them but this is an exception to me. I don't know if because it's a hotel by the beach that I like having a kitchen available in my room, I think that it is mainly because it doesn't look or feel like a kitchen in a hotel room. The rooms are very nicely decorated so the whole combo bedroom-sitting area-kitchen just fits in.

That's mom in the picture, sitting in the living room part of the suite.

The hotel service is very friendly, helpful and welcoming. If you haven't read my review on the Ritz Carlton you should understand that, I usually expect good service from where I stay. Why not, right? As with everything in life, it's only better to provide good quality service in any area.

Very nice pool with a little shallow part, great to just sit in the water refreshing from the crazy South Beach heat while having a drink and chatting with strangers also hanging out in the pool, friends, boyfriend or family.

The hotel has beach chairs and umbrellas for their customers staying at the hotel (I think they offer two chairs per room and you can rent more if needed, or just sit on a towel on the sand) located on the beach right in front of the hotel.

Me in the picture to the right, sitting in one of the hotel chairs on the beach :)

The only bad thing about the Sagamore is their restaurant. I haven't had anything good off their menus yet and, it's pretty costly. Maybe that's why I liked having the kitchen in the room.

Make sure to check for good rates during low season, it's a huge difference in price!

There are modern art pieces spread through the hotel rooms and it all amazingly flows really well. I never felt like I was in a museum or a crazy art collector's home.

Here are some more pictures:

Front desk

Lobby

Pool


1671 COLLINS AVENUE MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139 PHONE: (305) 535-8088

Enoteca Drago

This is a pleasant looking restaurant in the center of Beverly Hills. I recently had lunch there in a Sunday afternoon and ordered the Lobster Risotto. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, we sat outside, on the side walk sitting area and the server seemed very professional or at least at first. My Risotto was neither bad or good. It lacked seasonings and lobsters. I did find some shrimp in it but if there were lobster traces, I just couldn't tell. The server showed an unpleasant attitude toward my neighbor table and it made me a little upset. At a table sitting in front of mine, there was a couple with two young children who were uncontrollably irritating. They were making a mess, throwing bred and napkins on the floor and banging the fork on the plate. The parents little did anything to control their children and that really disturbed me. I think the restaurant management should have said something to them but I don't think they did. I was waiting for the situation to get worse so then I could intervene but I didn't get bad enough where I thought it was necessary for me to get up and use my time and patience.
Well, I don't plan on going back but It might not be a bad idea to stop by if you are really hungry and needs to have something to eat right away. Not bad, but not great!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For this New Year's celebration I spent a few days at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel with my mom and sister. It wasn't a long trip since I live in Orange County but I was able to make it longer. I first went to Los Angeles on Friday December 28, 2007 to spend quality family time at the Burke Williams spa in Santa Monica where all three of us got really nice treatments. All to start a great new year, clean, fresh and relaxed. I recommend the spa facial with Cori! She did a great job, was very friendly and gentle with my skin. The next day I went shopping for shoes and a clutch for the New Year's Eve event that we were scheduled to attend. Didn't find anything that I thought could look nice with my dress. I figured I would just use whatever I had at home. First choice was a pair of silver sandals from Payless for Shoes but since I (believe it or not!) don't have a silver purse to match, decided on a pair of satin bright pink sandals that I have a matching purse to go with. I had to ask my boyfriend Jay to deliver both shoes and bag at the hotel the following day :) I had gone out with my mom while my sister stayed home sleeping until late, as usual. Finally left LA around 4PM. A lot later than planned, or that at least I had planned.
We got to the hotel, settled in and started getting ready to relax and enjoy our little vacation. It is funny to go on vacation near where we live but I loved the idea. Drove my car, already knew the area a little bit, knew I could just go home or anywhere else I needed to like South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island and best of all, the trip back home would be short and quick. The hotel was great! Wonderful customer service, very pleasant staff and fast service. Trust me, I made all my pennies worth by requiring and enquiring about everything I needed! The hotel is nicely decorated with everything in extremely good condition. The Christmas and New Years decoration was also very beautiful and exclusive with the use of nontraditional colors such as purple. This hotel has the most beautiful gym I have seen, which I didn't use but was glad to know I could if I wanted. I did attend to a yoga class though, which was very nice but since it was held outdoors in a gazebo overlooking the ocean, was also really cold. We were all trying to keep our balance during yoga poses, while looking for dolphins in the water and chattering teeth almost freezing cold. A wonderful experience!
Next morning I chose to lay by the pool instead, in a sweater and a towel over my whole body. A lot more pleasant! The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel has a restaurant called 162', that overlooks the beautiful view of the ocean and serves a soy bean and edamame burger (Barley Edamame Burger* - Avocado, Tomato, Lettuce, Red Onion, Oat Bun $16) on the dinner menu, which I was glad to try. It is a good vegan option! This restaurant is also open for breakfast and lunch. I actually think they are open all the time, 24hours, because every time I walked by, there were people eating there. I had planned on having breakfast there also but when I finally had the chance to, they were only serving a $110/person New Year's buffet breakfast which I didn't think was necessary to satisfy my morning hunger. So I went again, to the other buffet breakfast that is served at the hotel, this one is at the patio restaurant "overlooking" (if sitting at the outdoor patio, if you stand up from your seat and look out, you can see the pool) the pool.
We attended the Gala Event and I have to say that it was impressively well done! I did not expect it! Obviously, the band was your ordinary tacky kind of band playing the same old songs but I think that was all part of the fun. The band even had dancers, like back up dancers! Ha ha! That was funny! but also very entertaining. The decoration of the party was nice and the food very good. I was able to get a special vegan meal out of my pre-request and it was delicious. The whole thing was a lot of fun! I definitely recommend the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel and their New Year's Eve Gala party!