With a new year comes new opportunities to visit the destinations you left off your travel itinerary in 2009. Whether you want to kick off the year in the heart of Times Square after witnessing the world-famous New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, amid the glitter and the glamor of the vibrant metropolis that is Las Vegas, or enveloped in the sights and sounds of San Francisco, from the picturesque Golden Gate Bridge to the ever-bustling Chinatown, the possibilities are endless. Of course, you’ll also want to book a hotel that fits your preferences, whether it’s one that offers accommodations for less than $100 a night, free shuttle service to nearby theme parks, a complimentary continental breakfast to start your morning off right, or a fully equipped conference room from which you can organize a business meeting.
We have selected the following properties for their strategic location, shopping and leisure facilities, and excellent hospitality. If time and budget allow, add a visit to these great hotels to your list of New Year’s resolutions.
1. Nu Hotel: This boutique hotel in Brooklyn, New York, opened in 2008, but word has spread quickly about the hotel’s fresh design and penchant for excellent service. The hotel is in the center of the BoCoCa district, which encompasses three Brooklyn neighborhoods: Boerum Hill, whose streets are lined with French bistros and elegant brownstones; Cobble Hill, showcasing a unique mix of old-world shops and gardens; and Carroll Gardens, an old Italian neighborhood with fine restaurants and antique shops. Just eight miles from Times Square, the hotel provides easy access to places frequented by business and leisure travelers, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower. Rooms feature plush mattresses with Egyptian cotton sheets and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. The hotel features a 24-hour fitness center and offers complimentary continental breakfast in the hotel’s Nu Bar, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and free copies of The New York Times to help travelers from businesses to keep up with the news.
2. Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers: Steeped in history and charm, this iconic hotel, a member of Historic Hotels of America, is located in the heart of the historic Back Bay and has attracted a host of American presidents and celebrities since its inception. opening in 1927. The hotel is located just 200 yards from the nation’s first public parks, the Public Garden and Boston Common. It was also the first hotel to include many of the standard amenities found in hotel rooms today, such as in-room radios. The hotel is close to the shops of Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Boston’s financial and theater districts. In addition, the hotel has nine on-site restaurants and lounges, a business center and fitness center (both open 24 hours), and an airport shuttle that runs daily.
3. Hotel Diva: The cutting-edge Hotel Diva, located in the heart of Union Square in San Francisco, combines modern elegance with great style. It’s just a short walk from Chinatown, the American Conservatory Theatre, the Curran Theatre, the Moscone Convention Center, the Financial District, and countless shops from Neiman Marcus to Saks Fifth Avenue. Travelers can enjoy free use of a meeting room designed by renowned architect T. Olle Lundberg, gym and Internet rooms. Then they can dine at the Colibrà restaurant, famous for its Mexican tapas, or have a cup of coffee at Starbucks, located just off the lobby.
4. Tropicana Las Vegas: Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip is Tropicana Las Vegas, offering guests a plethora of activities and amenities. It features the 850-seat Tiffany Theatre, fine dining, a 61,000-square-foot casino, hair and barbershop, and three high-energy lounges. The hotel’s newly designed pool is scheduled to open in April 2010. Business travelers can focus on their work in the business center, which offers computer rentals, photocopying, and other services. But who says you can’t mix business with pleasure? The Tropicana is the only major Las Vegas casino resort to offer poolside Wi-Fi access, so guests can bring their laptops and stay connected while relaxing on the pool deck or in a private cabana. Voted “Best Las Vegas Wedding Chapel” eight years in a row, it’s no wonder so many couples say “I do” at this legendary Strip hotel. Registered guests must be at least 21 years of age.
5. Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center: Located just a mile from Walt Disney World and 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport, this stunning property blends the charm of an old-world Florida mansion with the modern conveniences of a luxury resort. . It boasts four and a half acres of lush interior gardens and a 20,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, not to mention an abundance of restaurants, shops, and salons. Kids will enjoy Clearwater Cove, a water play area that has a zero-entry 120,000-gallon family pool, as well as several play areas around the pool deck. Travelers with business on the agenda can take advantage of 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the 178,500-square-foot Florida Exhibition Hall.