Old Shanghai is Nice BUT…Not the Best Place to Stay in Shanghai!

I just finished up an amazing month in China and loved my latest visit to Shanghai and this incredible city of 24 million people. I really can’t get enough. The skyline! The food! The metro! (The metro is so clean and neat and the signage is very easy to understand.)  And the dumplings. I really can’t get enough of the dumplings.

To have enough energy for all that dumpling-eating in Shanghai, you’re going to need a good night’s rest every night. In an effort to help you get the rest you deserve, during my stay, I raced all around the city trying to determine the best place to stay in Shanghai…the best neighborhoods and the best hotels, closest to pubic transportation and lots of amenities.

How to Pick the Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: Location, Location, Location

Shanghai is MASSIVE. When deciding where to stay in Shanghai, you need to pick a hotel by a metro station. Like on top of one if possible (there are a lot of skyscrapers in Shanghai so this is not uncommon) or within a 5 minute walk of one. (Preferably less, honestly because crossing the street can be difficult at times — there aren’t always crosswalks or pedestrian signals — and motorbikes don’t seem to obey traffic laws.) This sort of location gives you access to all sorts of amenities…usually a drug store, a 7-11 or FamilyMart, and lots of great eateries. Focusing on metro-friendly hotels automatically rules out any hotel on The Bund by the way! (Keep reading til the end for all of my thoughts on The Bund and why you shouldn’t stay there.) Booking.com is great for selecting hotels that fit my subway location criteria because hotel descriptions will tell you exactly how far it is to the nearest metro station. Pay careful attention to this information. Here is the description for The Langham — coincidentally my top pick for where to stay in Shanghai — from Booking.com. Note the sentence I highlighted, which explains how close The Langham is to Shanghai’s South Huangpi Road Subway Station.

Pay attention to how far your Shanghai hotel is from a metro station.

Always Check Internet Speeds!

Besides for location, in my opinion, the other thing to consider when deciding where to stay in Shanghai is internet speed. In general, internet speeds in China will be slower than what you are used to if you are from a major 1st world city. You will also be behind the Great Firewall — China blocks Facebook, Instagram, all Google products, and many newspapers like the New York Times — and if you use a VPN to access these websites — I recommend Express VPN — it will slow your speed even further. So…use the Booking.com wifi rating to evaluate hotel wifi speed as you are considering where to stay in Shanghai.  To get to this information, click Guest Reviews on a hotel’s main page on Booking.com to see the rating breakdowns as per the below screenshot of again my personal pick for the best place to stay in Shanghai, The Langham.

Carefully review the wifi ratings of hotels in Shanghai as it’s always going to be less than ideal.

Make Sure Your Shanghai Hotel Has A Concierge

My last recommendation in looking for the best place to stay in Shanghai is to consider the presence and/or quality of concierge. While there are many young people in Shanghai who speak English well today, they don’t all work in hotels. If you don’t speak Chinese, it can be helpful to have a concierge who can arrange tours for you, book restaurants, and translate when needed. Even if you don’t use the concierge directly, make sure you collect a card from your hotel with the hotel address in Chinese. This can be invaluable for taxis and when you are lost. Remember, Google is blocked in China so Google Maps will not work! And even if you use a VPN for Google Maps, I found out the hard way that Google Maps is woefully out of date.  You will need to rely on Apple Maps. (More on my app tips for Shanghai here.)

The Ultimate Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: XinTianDi

After exploring nearly every area of the city, it’s clear to me that the XinTianDi neighborhood is the best place to stay in Shanghai as a tourist. Yes, it’s popular with Western tourists but it’s just so lively and vibrant and fun. There are great restaurants and bars and it’s super-convenient to public transportation; the XinTianDi and South Huanpi Road metro stations are right there. It’s also quite beautiful with large trees shading many of the roads and a restored pedestrian-friendly old town area. Yes, pedestrian friendly!! (Most of Shanghai is not pedestrian friendly.) If you’re into Din Tai Fung, the excellent Taiwanese dumpling chain, you’ll also find one in the Shanghai New World mall. You’ll also feel quite safe in XinTianDi, which is important. (Although exercise all the usual cautions and if you are a woman, check out my favorite anti-theft purses.) You really can’t go wrong with XinTianDi if you want to be in the center of it all and within an easy metro ride of anything. Here are my three picks for the best place to stay in Shanghai in XinTianDi according to budget:

My Pick for the Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: Langham Xintiandi

XinTianDi Luxury Hotel: The Langham XinTianDi

This is a 5-star hotel with a price tag to match but if you have the cash, I recommend you spend it here. (And before you rule it out because you think it’s too expensive, check the price! It’s actually pretty decent!) The Langham towers over XinTianDi and offers an indoor pool, luxury spa, and 24-hour fitness center. There are also several restaurants on the property. Consider a Club room for an extra treat so you have access to the complimentary breakfast and happy hour. Rooms have iPhone chargers and a Bluetooth speaker. Service is excellent. Personally, this is my #1 pick for the best place to stay in Shanghai given the hotel’s quality and location.

XinTianDi Mid-Range Hotel: Ascott Huai Hai Road

This is a really nice apartment hotel on the north end of Xintiandi. Each room has a small kitchen and a washer/dryer combo and the rooms are sound-proofed against Shanghai noise. There’s an indoor, heated swimming pool, tennis court and gym as well as an on-site restaurant and bar. This is a great family option as the rooms are quite spacious. It’s also great if you are staying for a longer period of time and don’t want to be eating out all the time. However, there are also tons of restaurants around the hotel which is convenient if you are traveling to Shanghai on business and not planning on cooking dinner.

Photo from the Fraser website

XinTianDi Mid-Range Hotel: Fraser Residence Shanghai

If you like the idea of an apartment-style hotel, the Fraser Residence is another one of the best places to stay in Shanghai. What I like about this hotel is that it offers water filters and air filters in each room. (You can’t drink the tap water in Shanghai and the air pollution is a nightmare at times so both of these things are bonuses!) Most rooms have balconies which is an added bonus. Like the Ascot, this is a great hotel if you are looking for more of a self-catering option.

XinTianDi Budget Hotel: U Hotels XinTianDi

This is a great little apartment-hotel. Some larger units come with washer/dryer combos which you might find handy during your trip. There’s also a nice rooftop deck and a very small gym. The rooms are a bit more basic than Ascott but still nice. There are some complaints about noise between rooms but for the price, this is a great option. And really, you already know that I think XinTianDi is the best place to stay in Shanghai so the location of this hotel really can’t be beat.

See a full list of hotels in the XinTianDi area here. (Booking.com hasn’t done the best job here with giving you a clear list of hotels in xinTianDi so try to pick something between Huangpi South Road metro on the north end and XinTianDi Metro on the south end.) There aren’t a ton of hotels in this area but honestly, it’s worth researching them all because in my opinion, XinTianDi is the best place to stay in Shanghai.

My 2nd Pick for the Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: Jing’an Temple Area

If you like shopping and convenience and SHOPPING, the area immediately surrounding Jing’an Temple is great. I love that there’s this beautiful temple smack dab in the middle of the city. Nearby, I particularly love the Reel Mall and its AMAZING food court downstairs. (Exit 10 from the metro.) You definitely will not go hungry staying around here. There’s also a lovely park surrounding the temple itself if you need some fresh air and exercise. The area is very convenient to the former French Concession as well which is one of my favorite neighborhoods to explore in Shanghai — tons of great restaurants, a nice mix of old and new, and lovely tree-lined streets. So if you want something with a bit more of that mix between commercial and neighborhood-y, Jing’An Temple is my #2 pick for the best place to stay in Shanghai.

Where to Stay in Shanghai: Puli Hotel and Spa Shanghai

Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: Jing’an Luxury Hotel, The Puli Hotel & Spa

Topping many of the lists of where to stay in Shanghai if you want pure luxury, The Puli Hotel & Spa in the middle of one of the world’s most populous cities is just so mind-blowingly serene and chill. There’s 24-hour butler service, a one-star Michelin restaurant, a fab gym with sauna and steam room and then there’s a hot spring pool and heated infinity pool as well as a spa center. Sign me up! If you’ve got the cash, this is certainly a very top contender for the best place to stay in Shanghai. (And if you’ve got even more cash, opt for a Club room.) If it weren’t for my love of XinTianDi and The Langham, this would really be in first place on my “Where to Stay in Shanghai” list.

View of the Swissotel, one of my top picks for where to stay in Shanghai, over Jing’An Temple.

Jing’an Mid-range Hotel: Swissotel Grand Shanghai

The Swissotel is located close to the Jing’an metro station and has a great gym, pool and spa with hammam and sauna.  The hotel has a pillow menu in case you are picky about where you lay your head. Upgrade to the Club floor for access to additional amenities including complimentary breakfast and evening happy hour. If you are trying to decide where to stay in Shanghai, I think this hotel has a great price-to-quality ratio. It is a very solid business class hotel. And of course, it’s also a great location if you like shopping!! (And eating.)

Jing’an Budget Hotel: World Union Serviced Apartment Cosmo

This is an studio apartment offering a 5-minute walk from Jing-an Temple station. Rooms are basic but modern and include a washing machine, which is very handy. Note that this is not a full-service building. That is, you won’t have use of building amenities. But it’s a great choice if you like cooking your own meals and are looking to save some money on a full-service hotel.

The Jing’An neighborhood is a total contender for the best place to stay in Shanghai. See a full list of Jing’an hotels here. Pick one close to Jing’an metro station please!

My Last Pick for the Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: East Nanjing Road (The Bund)

Everyone is going to tell you that the best place to stay in Shanghai is around The Bund and East Nanjing Road. Those people are uninformed tourists who don’t know Shanghai very well and they are wrong. Having stayed at the Westin Bund Center before and having spent a lot of time on The Bund, this is NOT  my favorite part of town. (And I certainly don’t think the Westin is the best place to stay in Shanghai either.) This location is great if you want to go for a run every morning along The Bund and want easy access to an Apple store (there’s a huge one on East Nanjing Road) but I just don’t think East Nanjing Road is as exciting or interesting as XinTianDi or Jing’an Temple. (It’s all a bit…old.) I want to be very very clear about this! I don’t think The Bund and East Nanjing Road is the best place to stay in Shanghai. It’s like the 3rd best place to stay in Shanghai. Still, many tourists like it so maybe you should consider it. (But try to pick a hotel close to the East Nanjing Metro as many of the hotels along The Bund are not close to a metro stop and Shanghai is just so huge that you really need a metro close at hand. As such, I have only listed hotels below that are close to East Nanjing Road Station.)

The Shanghai Edition is a hip option if you’re trying to decide where to stay in Shanghai.

Bund Luxury Hotel: Shanghai EDITION

This hotel is brand new and very sexy and you’ll probably see it in all the latest travel magazines on their “Best Place to Stay in Shanghai” lists. The public areas are great if you love eating and drinking and being with the beautiful people — there are multiple restaurants and bars and they are very popular with the hipsters. The hotel itself has a nice gym, spa and swimming pool and the rooms are very modern with clean lines. You are also located close to some good shopping and a big Apple store. If you have to stay close to The Bund, stay here.

Bund Mid-Priced Hotel: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel

This popular hotel’s design is a good mix of old and new…it’s a bit art deco, which I like. It’s also very conveniently located to the pedestrian part of East Nanjing Road and the Apple store in case you need anything! This hotel is probably a little short on amenities but is still a great value for the location. It’s very popular with tourists given its price/value ratio. Also, if you are concerned about safety, the police department is right next to the hotel!

Bund Budget Hotel: Shanghai Fish Inn East Nanjing Road

This is a budget hotel with nice rooms in a good location in Shanghai. Very popular with tourists given the price tag here. Unlimited free bottled water provided on request. There are not a lot of amenities and the rooms are on the small side but if you are on a budget, this is a great option and the hotel gets good reviews. The entrance is a little off-putting — down a small alley — but still great fr the price and very convenient to the metro.

See all The Bund hotels here. Pick one close to East Nanjing Road metro station please!!

Where NOT to Stay in Shanghai

Pudong: Unless you are in Shanghai for business on this side of the river, do not stay in Pudong. It’s a snooze fest and you will find yourself taking taxis or the metro everywhere. When I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Pudong during one of my stays, I had issues on weekend nights getting taxi drivers to take me home because no one wants to go to Pudong at night because there’s no one trying to get back into town. The views of the river were great from the Mandarin Oriental but Pudong was a hassle.

ON the Bund: Per the above, don’t stay in a hotel ON the Bund. (I hope I’ve made this point clear by now!) You’re too far away from a metro station. I read somewhere that the Westin Bund was one of the most popular hotels in Shanghai and I don’t gt it because it is a long ass walk to East Nanjing Road metro from the hotel. (And taxis are hard to get because everyone uses apps now and if you’re not from China, you probably won’t be able to use an app because of payment card issues.)

By the Airport: The airport is far away from downtown. Do not stay by the airport. Even if it’s cheap. Don’t do it. (Note that there are two airports in Shanghai and this advice applies to both.)

Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: Best Overall Luxury Hotels

If you are looking to stay in one of the best hotels in Shanghai — anywhere in Shanghai — here are my overall suggestions. Note I have only listed hotels that are convenient to a metro station and have a Booking.com rating of 8.5 or greater as of November 7, 2018.

• Fairmont Peace Hotel on The Bund
• The Peninsula Shanghai
• The Shanghai Edition
• The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai
• Andaz XinTianDi Shanghai
• The Langham XinTianDi
• Swissôtel Grand Shanghai
• The Puli Hotel And Spa
• Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World

Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: Best Overall Budget Hotels

If you are looking for a great budget hotel in Shanghai and you’re open to multiple locations and neighborhoods, here are a few top picks. To keep this list manageable, I again focused on hotels that were close to metro stations and had a Booking.com rating of 8.5 or higher. Note that I did not include hostels in this at all. I only focused on hotels.

• Campanile Shanghai Bund Hotel
• SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund
• Atour Light Shanghai On the Bund
• Anting Villa Hotel

Some Final Tips for Booking Your China Travel

Now that you’ve figured out where to stay in Shanghai, here are some other helpful tips…

1. Get travel insurance. World Nomads is a reliable provider. (The sidewalks in Shanghai alone are worth purchasing travel insurance. They are so uneven!! And building codes do not always seem to be in place. Stairways without railings etc.)
2. Book tours in advance using Viator, City Discovery, or GetYourGuide. Many tours will even pick you up at your hotel.
3. If you are traveling outside of Shanghai, book your train tickets online and have them delivered to your hotel. Queuing up for train tickets in China can be quite stressful. The signs aren’t always in English and the lines can be quite long. Also, the Chinese concept of personal space is very different from the American and British version of personal space so waiting for your tickets can be pretty stressful. Ask your hotel for help if possible.
4. Make sure you have a no foreign transaction fee credit card. Those fees totally add up!
5. Consider opening a bank account with no fees for international withdrawals.  OR withdraw large amounts to reduce the overall cost of withdrawals.
6. Get a VPN. You won’t be able to access anything Google, Facebook, or Instagram without it. I recommend Express VPN for China. It’s the only one that worked reliably for me.  Also, make sure you are always using the latest version of your VPN because it is a cat and mouse game. While I was in China, the desktop version of my VPN stopped working. I didn’t realize that I needed a new version until I contacted Express VPN support and they explained that the Chinese government had blocked the desktop version of the VPN and I needed a new version. I highly highly highly recommend Express VPN for your travels in China. You can subscribe for just a month or two or for an annual subscription. I’ve written more about my experience with VPNs and China over here.
7. Consider getting a local SIM card when you arrive. Easier than relying on wifi. Note that it will take some time to get a local SIM — if there’s no queue, assume it will take you at least 30 minutes as they painstakingly enter all your details. Bring your passport.
8. Bring tissues and wet wipes with you everywhere and be prepared for squat toilets even in Shanghai. (You may want to do some squats before you head to Shanghai to prepare.)
9. Read what I have to say about the best apps for Shanghai!
10. Eat all the dumplings. 😉 I left you some.

Summary of The Best Place to Stay in Shanghai

It’s XinTianDi! Or Jing’An Temple! That’s it!! I hope you found my post on the best place to stay in Shanghai helpful. Remember…stay close to a metro and don’t stay on The Bund!! You might find my post on the best apps for Shanghai helpful, along with my blog post on picking the best VPN for Shanghai. Enjoy your travels and consider booking one of these tours for the full Shanghai experience…

Pin Where to Stay in Shanghai for Later!

The post The Best Place to Stay in Shanghai: The Best Hotels in the Best Neighborhoods first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

My Weekend in Oman: The Lobby of Al Bustan

My Luxury Weekend in Oman

The title of this post is a lie.

It should really be called “Weekend at Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel, Which Just Happens to Be in Muscat” because well, I really didn’t see much of Muscat while I was in town. What I did see was an awful lot of Al Bustan. Not a bad thing!!! Al Bustan makes for a great long weekend getaway from Europe or the Middle East.

There was a particularly good British Airways World Traveler Plus flight deal on the round-trip to Muscat, so I snatched that up when I saw it. And then there was Al Bustan, a place I’ve read about for ages and always wondered about. The Sultan of Oman keeps a place here…I was hoping to meet him, but sadly he wasn’t around.

My arrival in Muscat was not, unfortunately, auspicious. There were two parts to this:

• BA has started serving “snack boxes” instead of a full breakfast on long-haul flights. I was handed an egg and cress sandwich and given a choice of breakfast bars. After a few bits of the egg and cress sandwich, something just didn’t feel right. Keep reading.
• At one point in the taxi from the airport, we took a sharp turn and all my belongings went flying. Including my UK mobile phone, which I didn’t realize at the time.

So I arrived at the hotel only to figure out that I didn’t have my mobile phone with me. (Thankfully, the hotel knew the taxi driver and he returned with my phone about 20 minutes later, while I was still a mess in the lobby.) Then as soon as I got to my hotel room, I promptly vomited egg and cress and Strawberry Nutrigrain Bar all over the carpet.

View of the pool and the Gulf of Oman

After the very nice man from housekeeping cleaned up after me with the heavy duty carpet cleaner, I passed out for three or four hours. Remarkably refreshed, I made my way to the pool.

And I never left for four whole days.

Entrance to the Six Senses spa

OK okay…except once, to go to the spa for a very good massage. The spa here is really gorgeous. I loved it and wanted to Instagram everything.

The pool at Al Bustan is lovely too. Oddly, I had it to myself for most of my stay, even though there were hundreds of other guests lounging poolside and in the gardens. Do people not like pools? I do not understand.

Their loss.

Guys in the souk buying frankincense

I also left the pool one other time, to go to the souk. It was nice. Very local. (The hotel offers a free shuttle although taxis are cheap and plentiful.) I definitely not regret buying some of the gorgeous jewelry I saw. And I was struck by how much Omanis like patterns and jewelry and embellishments. But it was hot and I had that pool to get back to, so I didn’t stay very long. Also, I had made a faux pas and although my arms were covered, my legs weren’t. I definitely got one long “You should know better” look as I was wandering through the gold souk. (Note I saw many Western tourists in many skimpy outfits so in comparison, I was in good shape. But be respectful, friends.)

I *really* liked Al Bustan. The lobby is fantastic and the hotel staff are just so very lovely. (And so very international.) I was pleasantly surprised by many of the food and beverages offers — in a lot of hotels these days, it’s hard to get away from lunch for less than $40 USD. But Al Bustan had “All You Can Eat Taco Night” and daily happy hour specials. Well done. The breakfast buffet was also one of the best I’ve ever seen. And the bar  and outdoor restaurant at the pool is also quite nice.

The only downside to Al Bustan — the whole country actually — is that Skype and most other VoIP services are blocked. So you will need a VPN if you want to use Skype or Whatsapp Calls! Read my VPN post for more about this.

Al  Bustan is now closed until September 2018 as it undergoes significant renovations. (I believe day passes to the beach will still be available.) I’m not sure how they can improve on perfection, but I look forward to returning in 2018 and seeing what they’ve been up to. You should too. Book Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Book a Muscat Tour for Your Weekend in Oman

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Location, location, location. Especially when I am travelling by myself, I like to be central. I also have been trying to be better and better about money these days and not spending an arm and a leg on hotels, even if they do offer slippers, fluffy pillows, and nice sheets. I’ve been trying to stick with a sub-$250 USD per night budget. #FirstWorldProblems, I know. But $250 a night doesn’t go very far in a lot of cities these days. In Venice, it got me Hotel dell’Opera, a centrally located sweet but slightly worn hotel, with no restaurant, no bar, and no communal areas. Although there was a tiny rooftop terrace with a honesty bar — 4 euros for prosecco — so that was nice.

The bed was firm, the pillows were thin, and I couldn’t figure out how to take a shower in the low-ceiling bathroom without sitting down or hitting my head while standing up. The wifi was the type that forces you to login each time you want to use it, which is my least favorite kind of wifi.

But the view from the front door of the hotel was pretty enchanting…right on a canal…and all day long, singing gondoliers and accordion-playing gondoliers would go floating by. I don’t care how touristy you may think that is…it’s pretty amazing. Also, there was a serviceable breakfast with friendly service (when you could find the gal) all included in the price. And,well, the hotel was about a 4 minute walk from Piazza San Marco, so there was that…

I think I mentioned in a previous post that next time I’m in Venice — because there will be a next time — I think I will stay on the mainland, where I’m sure my dollar will go further and where there will be fewer tourists and better, more local food. So until next time, Venice…

Book a Venice Tour

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My cousin — who will forever be eight in my mind — got married in New York in June. It was a great excuse to spend some time in Manhattan — this would be a real New York wedding, attended by all New Yorkers, smack dab in the middle of the city.

Because I wasn’t quite sure what would all be involved in the wedding,  I wanted to stay close to the venue, a catering hall and steakhouse across the street from the Waldorf Astoria. I also knew that because I would be in New York for over a week, I didn’t want to break the bank. New York has a way of adding up — especially after all the eating and drinking — so I was already planning on staying with my brother in Astoria for a few nights. After a bunch of comparison shopping,  I settled on The Benjamin on 50th and Lexington, just a two block walk from where the wedding would take place.

Thanks to all those years in financial services, when I give myself a budget, I stick with it! I used some Expedia points that I’ve had hanging around for a while and got my two night-stay down from $584.60 to $506.94 or $253.47 a night. If you don’t know about Expedia points, you can essentially earn up to 2 Expedia Rewards Point per $1 spent on flights, hotels, activities, and packages that include a hotel. Then you can redeem those points for flights and hotels on Expedia. The great thing is that you can still totally “double dip” and still earn frequent flyer miles and hotel points on your stays too. (Note that I use my points through my US Expedia account. I believe the UK program is different and involves Nectar points but don’t quote me.)

My brother dropped me off at the hotel and the staff couldn’t have been lovelier. Check-in was efficient and friendly. The hotel lobby is super small and not a place to linger so I quickly headed up to my room.

The room had a microwave, which I thought was a great touch, and one of the most fully-stocked minibars I’ve ever seen. Later in the day, I popped out to Duane Reade — who doesn’t love an American pharmacy —  for microwave popcorn (pun fully intended) so I could have a little snack after the wedding festivities. For some reason, I spend a lot of time in Duane Reades when I am in New York. Standard shopping list: Secret deodorant; Gillette razor blades (they are much cheaper in the US); People and US  magazines, maybe InStyle too; Twizzlers; big fat tubes of Colgate toothpaste; Ziploc bags in all sizes (!!!); Pond’s Cold Cream (Super cheap and I love it); Noxema (again, super cheap but I love it); Tylenol PM (jet lag cure); tortillas (I’m serious); and maybe, just maybe if I feel like risking glass jars in my suitcase, a few jars of Pace Picante Sauce — yum.

The Verdict: The hotel restaurant at The Benjamin as nothing to write home about — my ceasar salad was distinctly unmemorable — and the hotel’s elevators were tiled like showers, which was a little odd. But the bell staff were some of the friendliest I’ve ever met and the wifi was free and plentiful. All in all, The Benjamin is a sweet little hotel in a convenient location. I recommend it.

Book a New York City Tour

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The other week, I had to go to Austin, Texas for work. Because it was my birthday and a friend of mine was in town from Chicago for the weekend, I booked two hotels: a fun hotel to kick things off, and then the work hotel because I had to.

It’s hard not to have expectations when you check into a hotel. Let’s play a game. If I I say “brand new Kimpton hotel,” what do you think? It’s not hard. You think “brand new” and “Kimpton” (they of the free cocktail parties every evening at 5 pm as well as the leopard print robes). You probably get a teeny bit excited.

Now if I say “AT&T Executive Education Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin,” don’t you just want to yawn and change the channel? Who wants to stay at an Executive Education Center? BORING.

But as your parents probably told you growing up, never ever ever judge a book by its cover. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t stay at the Hotel Van Zandt, the brand new Kimpton in Austin, Texas. While the place was Instagram-worthy, the staff were poorly trained and a bit all over the place — from the bellboy to room service to the front desk. My stay was hard work, which is the last thing you want when you are traveling. Compare that to the AT&T Executive Education Center and, well, there is no comparison.

Things started off well at the Hotel Van Zandt. I arrived just when the happy hour was in full swing, and was quickly offered a glass of wine to take up to my room. Great! But then the bell boy did that thing that hotels are not supposed to do. He asked me for my room number. I know the drill in hotels…staff are never supposed to say your room number out loud. So I showed him my hotel room key, and then he proceed to loudly announce my room number for anyone in the vicinity of the hotel lifts to hear. As a female traveling alone, this just didn’t jive with me. Training, people. Training.

Contrast this with my check-in at the AT&T Executive Education Center. Bellhop Larry asked to see my room key folder. I showed it to him, he nodded. That was all. I said something like “Larry, thank you for not announcing my room number for any and all to hear” and Larry quickly responded, “Oh no, we’re never supposed to do that. That’s the first law of working as a bellhop.”

Some of you might be shaking your heads and asking me why I am making such a big deal about this. It comes down to price. I paid a lot more for the Hotel Van Zandt than the AT&T Center, and at that Kimpton-level, I expect certain behaviors. I’ve also staying in quite a few Kimptons over the years. And well, it wasn’t just this one incident in Austin. It was a string of incidents.

Moving on…the hotel restaurant. At Hotel Van Zandt, I had to wave my arms around to get my server’s attention and then my food took forever to arrive and be removed afterwards. At The AT&T Executive Education Center, it was like I was the restaurant’s only patron. I was graciously tended to and treated like an old friend.

Lastly…check-out. At the AT&T Executive Education Center, they seemed genuinely sad to see me go, they helped me with my luggage, and patiently waited for me as I changed for my flight. At the Hotel Van Zandt, I kinda got in a fight with the check-out desk! My room service bill the night before had been incorrect, and room service promised me “Don’t worry, it will all be taken care of when you check out.” I’m always wary of these sorts of promises, and of course it wasn’t taken care of when I checked out. The check-out person had a little attitude about my request that the item be removed — we’re talking like $18 here people — and told me they would need to “investigate” and that the finance team was all “in a meeting.” I totally understand that they needed to confirm it, but it was all in the delivery. Then, I had to keep spelling my surname and the check-out person totally wasn’t listening and kept getting it wrong, to which I would say politely, “No please, slow down. Let me spell it again.” And we ended up in a vicious cycle of me spelling, the check-out person misspelling, me asking them to slow down, them insisting they “had it,” grrrrr.

So in this case, service broke my experience with the Hotel Van Zandt. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth and no desire to return. But the AT&T Executive Education Center? I will gladly return anytime!

Has a hotel service experience ever ruined your stay at an otherwise wonderful property? Please tell me I’m not alone!

Book an Austin Tour

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Things to Do in Sofia, Bulgaria: Check out Nevsky Cathedral

Things to Do in Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia was a surprise. The wifi is AMAZING. It’s everywhere, and it’s fast. I mean, really fast. Bulgaria ranks at the 20th position in the global Net Index Explorer for broadband internet accessibility and speed. The average download speed in Bulgaria is 33.5 Mbps and the average upload speed is 22.8 Mbps. Apparently, the main reason for the good internet speed in Bulgaria is the fragmentation and competitiveness of the ISP sector in the country.

Also surprising? Besides for all the copious amounts of wine — did you know that Winston Churchill’s favorite wine was Bulgarian? — it was the way Bulgarians nod their heads yes. I had heard about this but never seen it live in the flesh. It’s a unique side-to-side-low-swinging movement that cracked me up each and every time. (Sorry, Bulgarians.)

I had a delightful time in Sofia and the surrounding areas. So will you! Here are my recommendations for things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Stay at Arena di Serdica. Located about a 10 minute walk from Serdica metro station, this hotel had great wifi connectivity, a fantastically magical mattress — The Magniflex — and tasty if basic food in the two restaurants.  Ah, and Roman ruins in the basement. The only thing I didn’t like about this place was the chaos at breakfast. Uncleared tables, staff arguing with customers…all a little crazy. But the price was right, the bathrooms were huge, and the location — just down a flight of stairs from the National Art Gallery — was great. Book Arena di Serdica. Note the hotel calls itself 5 stars but I’d say more 4-ish.

Things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria: Drink all the wine at Grape Central

Wine and Dine at Grape Central. One of my tour guides sent me here when I asked where I could try Bulgarian wines. I ended up visiting during lunch so I only had a glass of Bulgarian Chardonnay, but I liked the vibe and the food. My potato pancakes with olives and green salad were just what I needed after a long morning of slogging around Sofia. Carbs, people. Carbs. Also good? The decent wifi connection. Visit the Grape Central website.

Visit the Central Market. This is one of the neatest, tidiest food markets I have ever visited. All very chill and one of the top things to do in Sofia, Bulgaria. I wish I had had a tour guide to show me around and tell me what to try. Instead, I just ogled the display cases. Next time around, I’ll come here for snacks for a picnic. There are a number of small bakeries and a few wine shops, along with fruit, veg and butcher stands.

Things to do in Sofia: Take a food tour

Take the Sofia Food & Culture Tour: Truth: I booked this tour because it contained the word “food.” And it did have some food — a shopska salad (the national salad of Bulgaria — tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh cheese) and some charcuterie — but it wasn’t the tasting that I expected. During our 3.5 hour meander, I think my tour guide got a little annoyed with me asking, “So is there food at the next stop?” Because I was STARVING. I had purposefully had a very light breakfast and skipped lunch in preparation of this tour. While our guide was amazingly informative about all things Sofia in an amazingly detailed, detailed way, the tour didn’t live up to my food expectations. If you’re in it for the history, you’ll get a lot of that for sure. But don’t go hungry! Check out this tour on Viator. 

One of the best things to do in Sofia is just hang out on on Vitosha Boulevard

Hang out on Vitosha Boulevard: Downtown Sofia is refreshingly pedestrian. It’s kind of amazing actually. There’s this huge pedestrian street — Vitosha Boulevard — with a fab view of the mountains, and it’s lined on both sides with cafes and shoe shops. (People in Sofia seem to like shoes. There were many shoe shops.) I spent a meandering hour or two here, wandering from one shop to the next as all of Sofia strolled by.

A cool day trip from Sofia is visiting Villa Yustina Winery

Visit Villa Yustina Winery: I really wanted to see some Bulgarian vineyards so I found Ivaylo online and he drove me out to the lovely Villa Yustina, where we stood on the hillside and admired their young vines. Later, back at the winery, I got to taste a number of their wines. The 4 Seasons range is a good value with a wine — guess what — for every season. I particularly liked Winter — a cheery Cab Franc. I loved my visit to Villa Yustina and gladly would have stayed longer had they had a restaurant or informal cafe. But I was hungry! (Yes, a consistent theme.) Visit Villa Yustina. Also, contact Ivaylo and ask for a tour!

Plovdiv is also a great day trip from Sofia

Visit Plovdiv: For lunch, we drove over to Plovdiv and strolled around the picturesque streets and admired the many Roman ruins. (Man, that Roman Empire was huge.) I say stroll jokingly as the tiny roads are made of rough hewn bits of stone and”strolling” is an exercise in balance. After admiring the architecture, we dropped into the picturesque Philippopolis, where we sat out in the garden and enjoyed a lovely salad, mushroom risotto and chocolate ganache cake before heading back to the car for the 1 hr and 45 minute ride back to Sofia. I liked Plovdiv and hope to one day have more time to go back and explore. This isn’t Ivan’s tour but check out this other tour of Plovdiv on Viator.

I really enjoyed my time in Sofia. I was pleasantly surprised by what a good value it was, how easy it was to get around — the metro is fab — and how friendly the people are. If you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway, this is it!

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The post The Best Things to Do in Sofia, Bulgaria first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Things to Do in Bucharest, Romania

Ah, points runs. Last year, I hit Athens and Helsinki in order to secure my BA Silver Status. This year, I decided on Bucharest to push me over the points barrier. I’d never been to Romania before and besides for my points run, I was also aiming to hit a new country so I could bring my total number of countries visited thus far in my life to 49.  49! (Thank you, TripAdvisor, for helping me keep track of this milestone.)

I knew very little about Romania and Bucharest going in. I mean, I knew about gypsies but if there’s anything I learned during my time in Bucharest it’s…DON’T MENTION THE GYPSIES. Depending on who you ask, the Roma make up just 2 to 10% of the Romanian population. (Since returning from Bucharest, I’ve done some online research and 3% seems to be about the right number.) Your average Romanian is not gypsy, and there’s a bit of a perception issue here s so best to just steer clear of the topic altogether.

I had the misfortune of visiting during a few very hot days — 90+ degrees Fahrenheit in the city — and I had packed for weather forecasts that predicted more like 70. Please someone find me a weather app with correct 10 day forecasts? The heat meant I took lots of breaks and generally just sat around rehydrating in cafes, watching Bucharest go by.  I’m okay with sloth.

Here are my tips for fun things to do in Bucharest, Romania…

Stay at The Intercontinental

If you want to be in central Bucharest, the Intercontinental is where it’s at. I got a great flight/hotel deal on British Airways, which basically meant that my hotel cost £40 quid a night, which was pretty amazing. The hotel has great views over the city, and the indoor pool at the top of the hotel is perfect for HOT DAYS when you need to cool off. I was very glad to have this pool because it was very very hot during my visit. Sure, the hotel is a little bit like 1986 called and wants its hotel back, but it’s still nice. Book the Intercontinental.

Take a Food Tour with Step by Step

Eating eclairs from French Revolution should be at the top of your list of things to do in Bucharest.

I LOVED my food tour with Step by Step. My guide, Alex, was super enthusiastic about her city and showed me some great eats, intertwining the food with culture as the day went on. We tried cheese pastry, zacusca (delicious eggplant spread), local cheese and meats, and the best eclairs in Bucharest. Later in the day, as I was still walking around town with my eclair box from French Revolution, people actually stopped me and said how jealous they were of my eclair. (Romanians are very chatty, hospitable people and don’t seem to mind talking to strangers.) If I had any regrets, it’s that I didn’t do this tour sooner because it was so enjoyable. To me, this is one of the the coolest things to do in Bucharest. Visit the Step by Step website.

Hire a Private Guide

Bucharest’s Palace of the Parliament

I hired a guide off of Viator who gave me a very thorough introduction to Bucharest on my first morning. I saw parts of the city that I didn’t see with other guides. We walked down beautiful Victoriei Avenue, saw the Royal Palace, Revolution Square where communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu spoke in public for the last time, and the beautiful yet sad and neglected in parts Old Town. We covered a lot of ground and it was a bit exhausting given the heat, but I would still recommend the private guide angle for this very unique and interesting city. It’s pretty affordable, actually. Visit this tour on Viator.

Take a Street Art Tour

I enjoyed my introduction to Bucharest street art with Open Doors. Street art in Bucharest is a bit more political than London street art, but I kinda like that. The first two hours of this tour were really great, but it was so hot that once I saw my hotel with its rooftop (indoor) pool beckoning off in the distance, I bailed. A super interesting tour but it was probably a bad idea to do this on the same day as my private tour guide because I was just so tired and hot after six hours of walking. Visit this tour on Open Doors. 

Visit Peles Castle and Brasov

Originally, when I was looking for things to do in Bucharest, I was not really keen on doing this because it meant a two hour drive each way, but it turned out to be a really cool and unique experience. We visited Peles Castle in Sinaia and had lunch in town. The castle is absolutely stunningly gorgeous, if a bit over-the-top. It’s elaborately decorated and fairytale-like. The town itself is bit touristy, but still fun. We then continued to Brasov, one of Romania’s oldest cities, to see the Black Church, which has an organ with 4,000 pipes. Book this tour.

Do a Wine Tasting at Casa Vlasia

Things to do in Bucharest: Visit Casa Vlasia for a wine tasting

This was a total surprise. I asked my hotel to organize a wine tasting for me — I’m a big fan of taking advantage of the concierge — and they sent me to Casa Vlasia, about 45 minutes outside of Bucharest. My tasting was led by the charming Resvan, who talked me through the estate’s wines and history. Note that this is a VERY small operation — Two barrels!! Four acres! — but as someone who has done so many large-scale winery tours, this was refreshingly small and intimate. I only wish I had been hungrier as the cheese and meats that Resvan offered — all made on site — were fab. Honestly, this was great You should do this. Visit Casa Vlasia.

Stuff Your Face at Caru Cu Bere

Definitely eat at Caru cu Bere

OK, this is one of the most touristy things to do in Bucharest but seriously, Caru cu Bere is lovely inside — the woodwork and tilework is gorgeous. Also, the staff is very friendly and wants to make sure you are having a nice time. The set lunch for 20 lei is a TREMENDOUSLY good value — that’s about £3.50 or $5 bucks. Enough food for two very hungry people — a huge plate of polenta with cheese, a salad, Romanian sausages, roasted potatoes, and apple cake. I enjoyed my meal here, even if there were a lot of people taking photographs of the interior while I was eating. (Maybe ask for a table in a corner or something.) The food is good, not great, but the menu is huge and there will be something for everyone. Plus, they seemed genuinely happy to have me and that says something about a place. Visit Caru Cu Bere.

Visit Carturesti Carusel

Words cannot describe how gorgeous this bookstore is. It’s a lovely surprise in the touristy old city. I felt instantly calm walking in here. Bucharest is big on bookstores, which I love. Although I also love reading books on my iPad. Let’s hope real books survive though. Visit Carturesti Carusel.

Drink all the Romanian wine at Dionysos

Try the wine at Dionysus in Bucharest

I found this wine bar my first night in Bucharest — I had planned to check out a few — but I liked it so much here, I scrapped my plans to find others and instead came back again a few nights later. The staff are friendly and informative once you get to chatting with them. They will offer a plate of cheese and meat if you ask. Free wifi and great tunes! Visit Dionysos.

Summary

I had a great time in Bucharest. Even though it felt like I was there for a long time, I really only scratched the surface. I hardly got to any museums, barely went out to eat (what’s wrong with me?) and didn’t do any shopping. This means, of course, I am plotting my return. Any other tips for things to do in Bucharest?

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Looking for More Things to Do in Bucharest, Romania? Book a Tour!

The post Things to Do in Bucharest, Romania first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

After some time out in the suburbs with my cousin and her husband, I headed back into the city for the final few nights of my stay. Do you know what I noticed about the New York City subway system? There are barely any escalators and the stairs are very steep. Now of course, London’s underground is much further underground, so escalators are necessary. But the steepness of the stairs? As I schlepped my fairly large suitcase around New York City, I nearly broke both legs a number of times. We are talking stairs that are seriously on a 45 degree angle. London does a better job at planning for volume.

The Viceroy is on W 57th street, just two blocks south of Central Park. There’s a Duane Reade right on the corner in case you need to stock up on essentials. (I always do.) And most importantly, The Viceroy has an awesome rooftop bar with a great view northwards across Central Park.

I liked my room here A LOT. The cabinetry alone was gorgeous. The tilework in the bathroom was also gorgeous. In short, this is a gorgeous, gorgeous hotel, and it smells gorgeous too. (Although there are many people online who complain about the signature scent, I kinda liked it.) Here’s what else I liked and disliked:

What I liked…

1. I liked the doormen and the chilly blast of AC that greeted you when you stepped within 10 feet of the hotel entrance.
2. I liked the gym a lot. It is a great, fully equipped hotel gym.
3. I loved the rooftop bar.
4. I loved the room decor.
5. I really loved the location and the proximity to the subway.

What I didn’t like…

1. I did not get the warm fuzzies from the hotel staff at all, unlike The Thompson where they seemed like hip, interesting people that I’d like to hang out with.
2. I didn’t like the hotel restaurant. I had a late lunch there one afternoon and my pasta dish was distinctly unmemorable.
3. I didn’t like the nightclub atmosphere with the separate entrance for the rooftop bar.

All in all though, this was a high quality hotel and I would be delighted to stay here again. I would just make sure I ate elsewhere!

I booked my stay at The Viceroy New York on Booking.com, which is rapidly becoming my new favorite place to book hotels. (The information seems better organized than what you find on Expedia.) This was an all-in price of $285 USD, which again is a great value for Manhattan. Note that this was one of those non-refundable rates. 

The post Sleeping in New York Part II: The Viceroy first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

I had a couple of things to do inside and outside of New York City back in July during my stay, so I spread my visit across two different hotels, one downtown and one uptown. You might know that I’m also quite in love with hotels and struggle with more than four or five nights in the same one — I get bored — so variety is key!

My first hotel was The Thompson Guiildhall, down on Wall Street, which turned out to be very convenient to the Women’s World Cup Parade. (Yey Team USA!) It was also convenient to the World Trade Center Memorial, where I spent a couple of hours one morning. (And then returned to the hotel and had a glass of wine.)

Although The Thompson was a tiny bit worn around the edges and the bathroom wasn’t my favorite — it was super small — I loved the decor of my room and the huge ass TV. I don’t normally watch a lot of TV when I travel (or at all, really), but I am totally in love with the Property Brothers and was eager to do a little gorging.  (The amount of HGTV I watch when I’m in the States suggests that maybe I should get into property.)

What I liked and didn’t like:

1. The glass of prosecco they poured me upon arrival.
2. The location and the little coffee shop on the corner.
3. The proximity to multiple bagel shops.
4. The convivial bar.

What I didn’t like:

1. The bathroom was a tad basic for my tastes. I like a bit more space. I know this is NYC but…
2. They do this thing where they have mini gyms on each floor. One treadmill and one elliptical and some free weights. I like how they are trying to maximize their space, but it’s a little weird to be in such a small room with one other person. I felt like I was invading on their workout.
3. In general, everything was a little run down and worn and torn. Not by a huge amount, but dings on the walls, scratches on the furniture, etc.
4. Wine at the bar was not cheap. (This may be a greater New York City problem, of course.)
5. It was practically impossible to get a taxi to Penn Station when I left the hotel on a Sunday afternoon, and I made my train by the skin of my teeth. The doorman and I were both at our wits’ end. He promised it’s never normally like that but…

Would I stay here again? Maybe…while the hotel was convenient for my needs at the time, I probably would stay more in Greenwich Village/Soho next time or more midtown. It’s definitely a quality property though so if you have a lot of business to conduct in the Wall Street area, I’d give it a go.

I booked the Thompson Hotel on Hotwire at the bargain price of $183 USD before taxes. With fees, it was $232 USD, which I think is extremely reasonable for a hotel of this quality in Manhattan. Read my post on how I save money on hotels using Hotwire. 

The post Sleeping in New York Part I: The Thompson Guildhall first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

How does Hotwire work? My review and tips.

How Does Hotwire Work? My Hotwire Review

I love Hotwire.com. For those of you not in the know, Hotwire does a lot of travel-related things but I use it to save money on hotels. (Particularly after quitting my job, finding a new one, trying to be better about money, etc.) The gist is that you pay in advance for an unnamed, secret hotel. Paying in advance — non-refundable, mind you — and committing to an unnamed hotel can yield big savings. Really big. (But pay attention to the risks I mention later.)

So…how does Hotwire work? When hotels have rooms that they know would otherwise go unsold, they use Hotwire to fill them. But for Hotwire to bring you these deals, they can’t let you know what exact hotel you are booking until AFTER you book. Once you book your room, they immediately confirm your reservation and show you the hotel name and address. What I think is interesting is that Hotwire GUARANTEES that you will get the lowest possible rate through them. If you book your hotel room and then find a lower rate on the same hotel elsewhere, Hotwire will refund you the difference.

I’ve used Hotwire a number of times now to save on hotels in London, New York, Chicago and Madrid and I have ALWAYS been pleased with the results. That being said, I probably spend a lot more time than other people in making my purchase decision and I stay away from the 2 and 3 star properties, which can be a bit more variable in quality. I thoroughly research all my options and do a little extra research to see if I can determine what hotel I’m actually booking. (There are always clues. Keep reading. )

How Does Hotwire Work? A Step-by-Step Guide

So if you think you are ready to take the risk, here’s how I use Hotwire to save money on hotels, with some screenshots of the app, my preferred way of using Hotwire. (The app includes user reviews. The site only includes the ratings. If you do end up just using the site, pay very close attention to the detailed rating breakdowns. But really, check the app for reviews. You might find it helpful to use a combination of both the site and the app but here, I’ll address the app mainly here.)

Step 1: Open the Hotwire App

I like using the app because it includes reviews.

Step 2: Insert Your Hotel Search

Enter your search. Here is my example (but real life!) search in NYC.

Step 3: Look for 4 star Hotels with a Hotwire Rating of 90% or Higher. (80% is Okay Too.)

Filter the results by ratings > 4 stars and recommendation > 90%

Step 4: Review the Hotwire Mystery Hotel Results

Review the Hotwire results

The Wall Street area hotel looks interesting and in my price range. Given that it’s cheap and has a 90% recommended score, this could be a good fit!

Step 5: Select the Hotel and Read the Hotwire Reviews. App only! This is Why You Should Use the App

Clue in the Reviews: Water Street

Clue: Free snacks and beverages!

Read the reviews carefully. Pay attention to the little details you find in the reviews…now we know the hotel is on Water Street and that there are complimentary in-room snacks and beverages. Fire up Google maps to look for 4-star hotels on Water Street and then you can also do some other Google-sleuthing to see if you can find hotels with free snacks and drinks in the rooms.

Step 6: Review the Hotwire Price so You Know What’s Included

Here is the total cost for a 3 night stay at this mystery hotel.

So a three night stay at this mystery hotel costs $824.68. Beware of taxes and other fees. Make sure you fully understand the total before you pay! I think that’s one downside to  Hotwire…when they initially quote you the price, they don’t include taxes and fees so if you’re comparing the figures to other publicly available hotel price data, you may not be comparing apples to applies.

How Does Hotwire Work: Hotwire Secret Hotels

By doing a little detective work on Google — as I mention above, the reviews state there’s an entrance on Water Street and there are free snacks — I determine this is the Andaz Wall Street. To make sure I am getting a good deal, I check the Andaz Wall Street website…and they want $922.77 USD for the same stay. If I book through Hotwire, that’s a $100 savings. I’ll take it. Of course, I’m leaving a whole lot of steps out of this research — it’s entirely possible I can find a hotel of similar quality for less money without paying in advance and doing the whole “no name” hotel thing. Generally I do a couple of searches first on Booking.com or Hotwire itself to see what 4- and 5-star hotels are going for in my preferred areas. Then once I’ve established a benchmark, I try to beat the system. My ultimate goal is to get the best quality hotel at the best possible price, which is why Hotwire features in my equation. Especially when I know my plans are set!

My 13 Howire Tips for to Save Money on Hotels

If you are looking at Hotwire “Secret” or “Mystery” hotels, here are some more tips to help you identify them:

1. Be picky based on location. This is the easiest way to narrow down what hotel it might be. Although generally, for cities I’m comfortable with — like New York, London, and Chicago — I am not so picky about location because I know I can take public transport anywhere I want to go. (But then again, I still wouldn’t pick a hotel in the boondocks.) Also remember…if you book a hotel in the wrong location, you could end up shelling out a ton of extra money on transportation. So…be picky about location!!! Do not gamble on an unknown hotel in a sub-prime location.
2. Create a benchmark. Once you decide on your target location, see what similar hotels are going for. Use Hotwire directly to do this via their named hotels, or consider checking Booking.com! Then, your goal becomes to beat this benchmark.
3. Check both the app and the website. If I can make anything clear to you in my Hotwire review, it’s that the app and the website contain slightly different information that will help you determine which hotel you are looking at.
4. I always filter on hotels with approval ratings greater than 90% (although I will accept 80% if need be) and with greater than 4 stars. This is partially me being picky, but partially mitigating my risk of being stuck in a crappy hotel. It also just gives you a smaller pool of hotels to investigate.
5. Read the reviews on the app!! As I’ve noted above, the reviews that appear on Hotwire will often contain little tips that you can string together to determine what hotel it is. For example, in Chicago, the Hotwire reviews for one hotel mentioned its all-white room decor. After a little Google’ing, I determined the hotel was either The James or Public. Based on the location, I was able to narrow it down to The James. In my screenshots above, I highlighted a couple of things in the reviews that helped me determine what hotel this was. Note that for some reason, I can only bring up the reviews on the mobile app. I am not able to bring up the reviews on the website.
6. See if you can find out what the last person got. If you are using the website, if you click on the results of your search, SOMETIMES Hotwire will say “The last person who booked this hotel got Hotel X.” This is a great tip off but please beware…it is not a guarantee.
7. Check the amenities. For example, indoor or outdoor pools can be very rare amenities. So if Hotwire says a hotel has a pool, that’s one way to help you identify your hotel. Like I did in Biarritz France when I booked the Radisson Blu. Also look at things like fitness centers and spa services, which not all hotels have.
8. Pay attention to the TripAdvisor Rating. Personally, I do not like to stay in properties with TA ratings under 4. (Preferably 4.5.) But more importantly….look at the TripAdvisor rating and try to line that up with the actual hotels. Then you can look at Hotwire’s own hotel listings and see which hotels line up. (Note the TripAdvisor Ratings appear on the app currently and not on the website.)
9. Watch out for Internet fees. If the reviews mention that you have to pay for Internet, I look elsewhere. These fees can ruin a good value.
10. Watch out for resort fees and items that aren’t included. Just be cognizant that some more “resort-y” hotels may charge resort fees that are not included in the price. Make sure you understand what extra fees you might be charged.
11. Use Better Bidding! Better Bidding is a great forum loaded with information about Hotwire rates. It can help you determine which hotel is which by matching up amenities. Also, people who have recently booked via  Hotwire will post their “wins.” If you’re booking at around the same time as some of the recent wins, definitely check out this info as it may be more up to date than the overall hotel list. There are other “reveal” sites but I find Better Bidding to be the most robust. The forum guests are also great sleuths and will help you figure out what a property is. Note their information is better for big cities.
12. Always check what the real hotel is going for! If it’s only $25 more expensive in total, you may want to just book directly with the hotel in case anything goes wrong. I only book with Hotwire if I am saving a significant sum.
13. Triple-check your data entry! Before you actual send through your credit card details, CHECK EVERYTHING. There are no refunds! None! That’s not how Hotwire works!

Risks in Using Hotwire to Save Money on Hotels

• Your plans could change and you really can’t get your money back once you’ve booked an unnamed hotel via Hotwire. Really, you can’t, even if you try really really hard. Even if you cry. You will not get your money back. That’s not how Hotwire works! There are many sob stories on the Internet about this.
• You could get to the hotel and totally hate it. Same deal. It’s too late to get your money back.
• If you need two beds, this will be difficult to book via Hotwire. They pretty much give you what they’ve got. So Hotwire is probably a better option for people traveling alone or people who don’t mind sharing a bed.
• Rumor has it that Hotwire guests get the crappiest rooms. This has not been my experience, but I mention it because you’ll find reviews that mention this.
• The hotel may end up overbooked and they send you somewhere else, defeating the purpose of this entire Hotwire exercise. But if you do get moved to a different hotel, chances are it will be a sister property so there’s that. But you still can’t get your money back!

So that’s my quick tutorial for anyone wondering “How does Hotwire work?” My Hotwire review is overwhelmingly positive, especially if you’re not planning too far in advance and you are open to a little uncertainty. If you’re ready to give it a spin, head on over to Hotwire and check it out!

Have you booked through Hotwire? Let me know your review! What was your experience like?

Still Asking Yourself “How Does Hotwire Work?” Check Out My Other Reviews where I Use Hotwire…

• Sleeping in New York Part I: The Thompson Guildhall
• The Waldorf Hilton London
• Using Hotwire for Hotel Rooms in London
• Staying at The Langham London
• Weekend in Biarritz
• Quick Trip to Chicago

Read My Other Travel Tips

• Solo Travel in  Your 40s
• Don’t Be Scared to Travel Alone
• My Favorite Travel Websites
• The Best Gifts for Business Travelers

The post How Does Hotwire Work: My Hotwire Review first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

To be fair though, this third trip was more about me than about work. I knew I had some leftover holiday to take and I knew I wanted to see some people and celebrate some things so I went. And I had a nice time. But I don’t think I need to go back for a while now…

Sleeping

I stayed at The James hotel off Michigan Avenue, an excellent location if ever there was one. My room was all white and modern BUT it was also a bit scuffed up. I used Hotwire to book my room and saved A BUNDLE. I forget now if I’ve written about my Hotwire arbitrage skillz but if not, I will in a later post. I like The James BUT I don’t like the food at The James, even though it is David Burke. Every sandwich came with too much untoasted bread and too many undercooked fries. Also, every sandwich was pretty expensive. So stay at The James if you want a nice central location, but eat elsewhere. Also, book via Hotwire. I saved $100 a night off the regular rate at time of booking. With taxes and fees, my room cost $153.87 a nght, which is a great rate for a hotel of this caliber and in this location. The Verdict: A good choice, but in need of a facelift. Try The Thompson instead.

Eating & Drinking

I wish I could tell you that I did some good eating and drinking while I was in Chicago, but honestly…I didn’t. I don’t know if it was bad luck or just laziness on my part. (OK, it was laziness.) I didn’t even go to Eataly, for the love of God! Here’s where I ate and drank…

Kanela Breakfast Club, Wicker Park: I met my friends Amy and Larissa at Kanela Breakfast Club in Wicker Park for a Saturday brunch/lunch. Kanela is in a beautiful space largely kitted out by the oyster bar that was there before Kanela. I liked that oyster bar, but when they opened, I thought to myself “People in Wicker Park don’t eat oysters.” I was right. They didn’t last long. Judging by the crowds at Kanela, people like it here. I did not enjoy my chorizo breakfast burrito at all, and that was after waiting an hour to receive it. The Verdict: Skip it. But I don’t know…everyone else seems to like it here so there’s that.

O’Callaghan’s, River North: My friends Bob & Aileen were celebrating their 10 year anniversary so I popped over to O’Callaghan’s with them for some Guinness to kick off the festivities. Super friendly bar staff, although very dark interior. It was quite empty when we visited but I am sure it gets packed during the week. The Verdict: If you want a nice Irish bar in downtown Chicago, you could do worse than O’Callaghan’s.

Star of Siam, River North: I used to walk by Star of Siam every day on my way to work, but yet I had never been. Well, a sudden craving for curry led us here during my visit and boy am I glad we stopped in. I loved it! I loved the decor! (All warehouse-y and spacious and nice decorated with Thai things.) I loved the service! I loved the food! Why have I not eaten here before? Star of Siam is in a bit of a strange location…you have to walk down a flight of stairs to get there from Wabash…but it seems to be a destination in its own right. The Verdict: Go if you’re craving Thai in downtown Chicago.

Lou Malnati’s, Rush Street: I woke up on Sunday morning and was kinda jonseing for a pizza. Don’t ask. I am ashamed of myself. I was there as soon as they opened and enjoyed my deep dish mini pan pizza in silence. UNTIL…I ran into my old colleague Leslie who caught me stuffing my face at 11 am on a Sunday morning. Lucky for me, her and her dad were planning on doing the same. The Verdict: A guilty pleasure.

Soho House, West Loop: I met Karen out for some drinks and snacks at Soho House and she gave me the grand tour. Amazing how much it feels like Shoreditch House. I mean, I guess that’s not amazing because it is the same owners and everything but they’ve really got this design thing nailed. The ground floor of Soho House was packed, the upper levels less so. The ladies’ room on the pool floor was flooded, so that was kinda gross. Also, I ordered almonds and pickles to snack on and the dish came with just three pickles. (Granted, when I pointed this out, they brought me a WHOLE BOWL of gherkins.) The Verdict: I like Soho House. Despite The Pickle Incident.

Joe Stonecrab, River North: Joe’s was right around the corner from The James so we popped in here for dinner one night. I order the ahi tuna and kicked myself later. I should have stuck with what Joe’s does well…stonecrab or steak. My ahi tuna was straight out of the fridge. No sign of searing but maybe they did sear it…in a very cold, cold pan. Many people like Joe’s, but after eating here many times with those many people over the years, I’m just not a huge fan. The Verdict: Meh.

So there you go…that’s my last trip to Chicago for a while, I think. Unless I become a property magnate and then maybe I will maintain residences around the world. That would be awesome.

The post Quick Trip to Chicago first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

My Review of Casas del XVI in Santo Domingo

My Casas del XVI Review

After kicking myself in the head for spending as much as I did per night at the Eden Rock Cap Cana, I made my way to Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. My trifecta of hotel sites (Jetsetter, Splendia, & Mr. & Mrs Smith) had directed me towards Casas del XVI and boy am I glad they did.

Because I honestly never wanted to leave this hotel. I wanted to hire their decorator to come to my house. I wanted to kidnap their breakfast chef. I wanted to drink all their honor bar rum. The hotel is super small but super sweet. All of the staff were amazingly lovely. And when I had a bit of a mix up with my transport back to Punta Cana at the end of my stay that left me sitting on the side of a busy roadway for 90 minutes waiting for another driver, without hesitation, they refunded my ride. Casas del XVI is a class act. If you ever find yourself in Santo Domingo — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — stay here.

Here’s a video of my lovely room to support my Casas del XVI review…I loved the tile work, the ceiling, and the art work. Very well done and well-curated.

The Breakfasts at Casas del XVI

Delicious oatmeal

The food at Casas del XVI was fantastic. The breakfasts were FANTASTIC. Honestly, even the oatmeal was good and who says that about oatmeal? Enjoying my breakfast each morning in the hotel’s courtyard was a really lovely way to start each day.

The Honor Bar at Casas del XVI

Honor bar rum selection

I’m normally not a huge spirits drinker but when in the Dominican…it was hard to stay away from the rum. Casas del XVI has a lovely honor bar where you can try a number of different rums. Such a fun experience.

The Courtyard

My breakfasts were served in the lovely courtyard. Definitely make sure you ask for mosquito spray but honestly, life doesn’t get much better than this. This was a lovely space to pass the time. I just felt so PEACEFUL and away from it all.

The Verdict: My Review of Casas del XVI

I loved it here. I want to go back! Thank you, Casas del XVI for a lovely, lovely stay. Click here if you’d like to book Casas del XVI.

I stayed three nights at Casas del XVI in April 2015 at a rate of $260.35 USD per night. 

You Might Like These Other Posts

• Staying at the Eden Roc Cap Cana
• Why It Pays to Comparison Shop: My Dominican Republic Hotel Search

The post Casas del XVI Review, Santo Domingo first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.