I called the hotel to see if I was hip enough to stay there after a bit of time on their website where I definitely felt out of the demographic pictured.  I didn’t quite ask that exact question but did ask “what is the mix of guest ages?”  The New York City hotel has a popular rooftop club and is a darling in the lifestyle hotel category for those who like to take selfies (there’s a selfie station in the lobby).  The friendly staff member on the other line laughed and said “it’s for everyone”.  I pushed further and he probably thought I was crazy – he sounded nice, a bit older like me (in his 40’s) so I decided to take a chance.  This was my first stay at a Moxy Hotel and the Moxy NYC Times Square Hotel, a stylish (almost boutique like) hotel from Marriott Hotels.  Having been Starwood loyal for my entire travel life, the recent merger has expanded my hotel choice and I was trying something new and with my points redemption, the Moxy Hotel Midtown Manhattan was it.

The Moxy Hotel Brand

The hotel space continues to blur the lines between boutique hotel, luxury, budget and affordable and The Moxy seems to straddle all of it. Marriott lifestyle brand is The Moxy, which it classifies as affordable luxury with a sense of play and design for what its guest’s value most.  You won’t find a coffee maker in the room or other space hogs (i.e. – desk, cabinets, closet, large furniture, etc.), the room has everything you need. If you fancy a foosball game, just go to the lounge on the 2^nd floor where you can also meet friends for cocktails or coffee chats.  It’s a hotel designed for you to stay, play and experience.  Each touch point is an experience for your senses.  At any age, we all like something new and fun.  I will concede that being solo didn’t make me brave enough to venture up to the rooftop bar when the comfy bed was calling instead.

NYC Location #AtTheMoxy

Located just two blocks from Penn Station, the Moxy Hotel NYC is in a great location to walk to/from much of midtown.  If you want to use the subway just go back to Penn Station for a plethora of options including the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) for easy to/from JFK Airport. The hotel address is 485  7^th Avenue (36^th & 7th Avenue), it is an easy walk on 7^th Avenue to Times Square at 43^rd Street.  While the Hotel chooses to have Times Square in its name, it’s actually about a 7-10 minute walk from 36th to 43rd (remember numbered streets are shorter distances vs. the never ending distance between the avenues).

Marriott Elite Arrival at The Moxy NYC

When I arrived at the hotel (entrance on 36^th Street), the expansive lobby ceiling art is the first thing I noticed along with the second floor loft lobby area that looks down below.  There were six staff attending their desks for a quick check in.  I was welcomed as an Elite member of the Marriott program and given an upgraded room from the double (lowest category) to the Queen room.  The rooms are snug to begin with so this was a welcomed upgrade.  I was provided a token (given to all guests as applicable) for a free glass of sparkling wine (or snack) at the second floor bar and given my room keys for the 8^th floor.  With a rooftop bar and second floor bar, I wanted a quiet option. If this is important to you as well – make it known in the reservation and when you check in.

The Moxy NYC Elevators

On the Marriott site, I had read a bit of grumbling about the elevators being odd and corralling all the folks into one car but when I arrived and learned more, I was really impressed by the elevators. There are four elevator banks (serving 612 rooms) and two video screens on either side.  You choose your destination – second floor restaurants/bar/living room, downstairs gyms, guestrooms, etc.  If you are going to your room or secure floor, you will waive your key card on the monitor and are the directed to an elevator number.

The second floor is open so no key card is needed (there are also stairs if you prefer).  When the elevator arrives, it has the floor numbers listed on the panel and you enter with no key to swipe, no buttons to press, the elevator has the directions and everyone on is off to their destination.  As I was on the 8^th floor, the elevators from my guest room floor were quick to arrive during my three day stay.  Overall, I liked the smart elevator technology.

The Moxy NYC Queen Room

Walking off the elevator and around a few turns, I found my room – it had an odd looking door with a frosted window. When I opened the door, it was just as I imagined from the photos online (a rare occasion that the online experience is the same as in person).  My bed was against the window (one way in) with the sink outside the bathroom. The vanity had multiple mirrors and shelves for your stuff.

The wall was filled with hooks/pegs (I really loved this) which held a foldable table and chairs to utilize the space. There is no closet in the room but the pegs/hooks more than enough made up for this (you’ll be surprised at how much you hang up on the pegs vs. throwing balled up clothes in your suitcase).

As I walked toward the bed, I saw the beanbag chair in the corner.  At the bed, I pulled out the lower drawer to reveal a safe.  Next to that was a compartment for your luggage or bags.    Opposite the bed was a flat screen television that would be lovely if I wanted to stay in bed all day with movies (free Wi-Fi means you can stream from your devices).  If you want to pull the shades down you needed to climb on the bed (a bit annoying but it was only me).

The only negative in the room was the loud air conditioner along the windows which seemed to go off every ten minutes to cool the room (it was an unusually hot, humid, sticky end of September).  If you are a light sleeper, you may want to use the ear plugs that are bedside (remember there’s a rooftop club that is open until 2 am during the week and 4 am on the weekends) or press the phone button for a night time story to help you prepare to sleep.

The 200 sq. ft. room felt perfect for one person and might be snug for two given that there is only one entrance to climb into the bed. Also if you are very tall, the configuration I had might not work for you as your feet might touch the television/wall so if that is a problem, tell the front desk staff.

The Moxy NYC Bathroom

The bathroom was subway tiled and a nice size with the walk in shower.  The water pressure was good and the toiletries by muk. (an Australian brand) were environmentally friendly and smelled great – sadly I wasn’t able to bring them home with me.

Other Moxy NYC Room Types

Other NYC Moxy room types include bunk beds, beds against each other and even a twin room for one person (you need to order that “crash pad” from the rooftop club bartender). If traveling in a group, with small kids or other configuration, there seems to be a room option for you at The Moxy NYC Times Square. If staying longer than 2-3 nights, definitely look to upgrade to larger room type.

The Moxy NYC Restaurant – Legasea

While I had a fancy opening party to attend for the conference, I know better than to go hungry so settled into the hotel restaurant Legasea Seafood Brasserie, owned by TAO Group, for a burger and fries.  The restaurant, which is gorgeously designed,  focuses on seafood but it also has comfort foods and appetizers served in the restaurant, at the bar and lounge area.

It was early (5pm) so the restaurant was empty whereas the Moxy bar area and living room lounge were crowded.  Despite ordering a sandwich, I was given fresh bread so of course, I would eat it immediately…..it was bread with sea salt on top – carbs and gluten be damned! Then my freshly made in house burger arrived with a cascading side of fries.  While I intended to save room for the recommended sea salted caramel chocolate cake (just typing that is causing a craving), it was not that day – I was happily full of burger, fries and a glass of wine.

Amenities  & Fun at The Moxy NYC

The lobby has a barber shop (the Blind Barber at Moxy) and access to the Egghead quick stop restaurant on 7^th Avenue (they do breakfast sandwich delivery to the room).

There is a basement gym, rooftop bar/club at Magic Hour (hotel guests get priority in the line) and mini golf (more for Insta photos).  None of which I was able to visit or experience given my schedule.  I was tempted by the foosball table and lobby games though!

Overall Impression – The Moxy NYC Hotel

My first Moxy NYC Hotel experience was quite surprising in a good way.  For such a long time, I had avoided Marriott hotels because they were bland and boring vs. the boutique hotels I’ve fallen in love with around the world but the Moxy NYC Times Square is quite the opposite of a Marriott.  It is an affordable design hotel with hints of boutique hotel.  With over 612 rooms with interesting room layouts, I can’t quite call this a boutique hotel but it does really deliver that boutique experience for guests of all ages which is quite the feat.

This is New York, so while you know the room will be smaller than most, it’s the service that will make or break your stay. At The Moxy NYC Times Square you get friendly staff that deliver a surprisingly high touch experience with a sense of fun – the lobby says it all – it’s a bit cheeky, has a selfie station, atrium art and games to play. Maybe that’s the biggest surprise at The Moxy NYC Times Square – it’s more than about a place to rest your head, its a reminder that you are never too old to have fun, laugh and smile.

Marriott Award Stay at The Moxy NYC Times Square

My trip to NYC was booked two days prior to arrival (for a conference) and since the city was hosting the United National General Assembly (traffic nightmare) it meant that most hotels, even budget ones, were selling for over $500 per night.  I was able to redeem 35,000 per night for my stay at the Moxy NYC so that was a great deal.  I booked my award reservation direct via the hotel app. 

I’ve stayed in many London luxury historic hotels, boutique hotels and small rooms but my first visit to the Great Northern Hotel London melded all of my past experiences into one luxury hotel award stay. The original London railway hotel first opened in 1853 and has been restored with such luxury and glamour that it has made many a top 10 list and won accolades since debuting in 2013 after a five year (wow!) restoration. The lengthy restoration was due to the strict rules governing the Grade II listing landmark status.  The hotel is a stunner and utilizes every inch to impress and provide boutique comfort to guests. With 91 rooms, it is an independent boutique property in the Marriott Tribute Portfolio collection, newly added to the family in September 2015.  When I found the Great Northern Hotel London on the SPG app, I was super excited to try it out on my upcoming stay in London as I’ve not spent any time in the King’s Cross neighborhood.

Location – Hotel at King’s Cross St. Pancras

Riding the Piccadilly line from Heathrow for just over an hour, I exited the tube station at Kings Cross.  Standing on Euston Street looking at the Kings Cross train station, I knew the hotel was close but couldn’t see it in the rain.   I turned around a few times when I saw the lettering “Great Northern Hotel” on the left and laughed because I was staring at it without seeing it for about five minutes (file under “dumb things I do”).  The hotel is connected to King’s Cross train station which makes it central to the tube station (Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith and City lines) as well as the National Rail. Across the road is St. Pancras station which provides access to the Eurostar and other train lines.

Arrival at The Great Northern Hotel King’s Cross

I missed the hotel entrance door (across from the taxi stand on the left) and ended up walking around the hotel past the tempting sandwich shop, Kiosk, the GNH hotel bar and to the front door with the GNH initials.

With doors on the right and left, I went left and found the elevators but no check in desk.  I opened the door ahead and saw the bar on the left and stairs up and over to the front desk (note, this was the right turn initially that I missed).   The front desk was staffed by three people at two terminals. Staff was welcoming and acknowledged my gold status.  Luckily, my room was ready for early check-in (1 p.m. vs. the normal 2 p.m. check-in) and I was offered a gold status amenity (points or a drink) and then quickly taken to my room by the bellman and shown all the features of my room.

Great Northern Hotel – Couchette Room 317

The hotel has five floors and my room, a couchette room, was on the third floor.  The couchette rooms are the smallest of the three categories and due to the historic renovation the space may differ a bit as seen on the floor map. Once off the elevator, you need to wave your hotel room key to open the main door to the floor (security feature).  My room was directly across from the security door and elevator bank (surprisingly quiet).  The hallway was decorated in muted cremes and browns with a stocked pantry at the end of the hall open to guests.

Expecting a small standard couchette room, I was surprised that the high ceilings made the room appear much bigger.  Walking in, the double doored bathroom was on the right as was the cabinet with safe, coffee maker, minibar and a few hangers with storage space.

Walking the hard wood floors past the bathroom, the bedroom was reminiscent of a cruise cabin, just a bit more swanky and luxurious.  The leather headboard and padded seating at the end of the bed was accompanied by a flat screen television and a small desk with leather seat. The bed was firm and yet I slept better than I anticipated.  The linens were plush and the bed has a duvet as the main cover – it was warm and comfortable.

I was shown all the buttons of interest including the automatic shade and curtains.  The couchette bed, meaning that one side is flush to the wall and only one way in took up 90% of the bedroom.  The room is perfect for a single/solo traveler but might be a bit tight for a couple for more than a night.

Wi-Fi is standard but was wonky in my room during the stay. If I wasn’t using my device I was disconnected and had to connect each time. Not the end of the world, just annoying. The front desk tried to help but couldn’t figure out why I was having problems so not sure if room specific or not.

Couchette Room – Bathroom at The Great Northern Hotel

The bathroom was large for the small room.  Double doors, a walk in shower and room for toiletries above the sink, it was a surprise. The toiletries are from Malin & Goetz, a brand I’m not familiar with, in interesting fragrances such as rum soap, peppermint shampoo, cilantro conditioner, rum body wash and a vitamin moisturizer.  There was a nice option of a bathroom nightlight under the sink to provide just enough light to get around in the middle of the night without affecting the room light for sleeping.

Restaurants/Bars at The Great Northern Hotel

There is a very posh British restaurant Plum & Spilt Milk on the first floor, the GNB ground floor bar and two other snug bars to visit.  I didn’t get to visit any of the bars or restaurant options this visit but they were consistently popular throughout the day and night based on my experience.  The Kiosk sandwich bar is part of the hotel offering tempting  takeaway until late night.

The Gym at The Great Northern Hotel

The hotel doesn’t have a gym onsite but does offer complimentary gym access and classes at the Bloomsbury Fitness Center.  You need to have the front desk make class reservations. A nice perk of the hotel.

Another fitness option is Run KX, a free trainer led 5km run around the neighborhood.  For a fee, there is a Bootcamp class you can join.  Visit the King’s Cross website for more information.

The Pantry at The Great Northern Hotel

The pantry at the end of each guest room hallway offered fruit, cakes, coffee and tea as well as counter space and reading materials if you want to socialize outside of your room.  The hallway also contains a couch if you need more space.  These are nice touch given that the rooms are a bit small and if traveling with friends or family in another room you can meet up here away from the public spaces.

King’s Cross Neighborhood

Location, location, location!  There are so many options steps away – both railway stations, Kings Cross and St. Pancreas, offer a plethora of food options – Pret sandwiches, a pub, champagne bar, markets like M&S and Waitrose as well as tourist attraction Track 9 ¾ of Harry Potter fame. Outside the train station and just a short walk from the hotel are many food options, highlights include the new German Gymnasium, Drake & Morgan and a Vinoteca.  On Euston Street, there are many pubs, restaurants and fast food takeaway options as expected near a train station.

Overall – The Great Northern Hotel London

I thoroughly enjoyed my three night stay at the Great Northern Hotel London – it was posh, comfortable and a great base for exploring London.  During my award stay, in November, the rates were slightly under 250 GBP ($400+) so using points (Category 6 Marriott) was a great redemption decision.  I would definitely stay here again to explore the area more and eat that cake in the pantry!

There’s a table full of Scottish shortbread cookies (and healthy apples) that I was drawn to in the lobby at check in – I knew I was going to like it here. Here was the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa located in Festival Square. My weekend trip to Edinburgh was a quick one with only a three night stay at the luxury hotel in Edinburgh which would be just enough time to explore the city and beyond for highlights of Scotland. Using my points, this was an award stay which was still a good deal for me over the May bank holiday (and marathon) weekend when rates were higher than normal.

Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel Location in Festival Square

Festival Square turned out to be a great base for my stay as I love to walk everywhere.  Shopping on Princes Street and the local parks were a quick 5-10 minute walk while Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile was 15-20 minutes (uphill and stairs take time depending on your cardio levels).  While the hotel faced the castle, it was not an easy walk straight.  The hotel is in front of the conference center and across from the movie theatres, live performance hall and has many restaurants (mostly chains which are good), pubs and a Tesco nearby.

Edinburgh Sheraton Arrival & Front Desk

The cab pulled into a private entrance off of the street and was met by the bellman who welcomed me to the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa.  If I had any doubts where I was, he was dressed in a kilt so I was most definitely in Scotland. He asked me my name as we walked inside as he took my bag.  I was directed to the front desk and he introduced me to the front desk staff for the handover and check in.  I had requested an early check in of noon as I was arriving on the overnight flight from Philly which connected in London so I hadn’t slept but really just needed a shower to wake up.  The front desk was very friendly to welcome me, explain the hotel features and the surrounding area. When asked if this was my first visit, I said “I was here over twenty years ago so essentially it’s all new to me again”. My key card was then handed over as I was told that I was upgraded to the preferred floor and given an Edinburgh Castle view – two bonuses for me.  The front desk staff were extremely friendly and chatty during my stay.

Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Lobby Area

At most hotels, the lobby is where the action is, however at the Edinburgh Sheraton, its mostly used as a meeting spot, business center and for the front desk and concierge.  The exit is to the driveway so most guests will use the 2^nd floor exit/entrance to Festival Square to access the main road, transportation and begin their trek outside.  With that, I only visited the lobby when my tours picked me up and of course to stock up on the complimentary butter biscuits that welcomed me to the hotel.

The décor and layout was quite nice as the Sheratons are upping their game in my opinion, a long way away from the boring beige that I tend to associate with a Sheraton.   The lobby had the Link Business Center, a television seating area, an open seating area, a lovely art collection and a private whisky tasting area roped off that day for a special tour group.

Edinburgh Sheraton Grand King Room

The elevators require a key swipe to access guest sleeping floors. I would be on the 6^th floor of the seven story hotel.  My room was close to the elevator bank (four rooms away) but I was only bothered by noise on one morning as loud people were walking by.  The hallway rug was a relaxing brown plaid, an ode to the kilt.

As I entered the room, it was definitely surprising in a good way.  My Sheraton expectations were definitely exceeded just like in London at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane. The Edinburgh Sheraton room had wooden floors, a rug feature around the bed and a view of the castle up on the hill.

On the left, I had the master room switches, closets of storage (plus slippers and robes) and drawers for the minibar and coffee maker.  Impressive was the drawer of glasses similarly featured as they are at the Westin Sydney.  So obviously the designers are borrowing cool features from other hotels.

The flat screen television welcomed me to the hotel and the desk was large to work on with a comfortable leather chair.  The room also included a seating area along the windows.

My view did in fact include the Edinburgh Castle up on the hill so that was cool, the downside to facing the front of the square was the noise below from the bar and outside folks from the wedding party one night.  Other than that it was quiet as no events were planned in the square during my stay (definitely check during your visit).

The King bed was a Sheraton Sleeper bed, which like the Westin’s Heavenly Bed, is a hotel bedding product that provides a wonderful sleep experience. The wall behind the bed was mirrored which helped make the room feel bigger. The room darkening drapes did allow some light in the room (not much) from above where they were not flush to the wall. Next to the bed, each side had room controls, a side table and light.

The hotel participates in the Green Program offering points to forgo daily maid service.  With a quick stay, I was happy to participate, collect my points and reuse my towels and sheets.  The only downside is that the SPG Preferred complimentary bottles of water weren’t refilled each day.  The front desk said that they would send me bottles water if I wanted.

Tempted as I was to just fall into bed and sleep after the long journey, I chose to experience the shower instead so I could find food and explore the city. I could sleep later.

The Edinburgh Sheraton Grand King Room Bathroom

A somewhat open plan bathroom with frosted glass, the bathroom was quite impressive but also a bit dark (note: makeup application was tricky).  There is a bathtub with loofah, a stall shower, toilet room and sink area with shelving underneath.  The toiletries are standard Sheraton, which are fine but not that great (or chipmunk worthy).  Here is where the Sheraton could use an upgrade in presentation and experience. An interesting feature was the door swung close to either the toilet room or the bathroom.

Sadly, one area that was disappointing was one of my major hotel pet peeves – the hair dryer bolted inside the desk drawer.  I absolutely hate this – love the hair dryer but please set it free!

The Concierge Team at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel

A week before my stay, I contacted the Concierge team for suggestions on what to do and where to eat.  A member of the team quickly answered me with a plethora of options.  When I asked to know more about tour operators and destinations, another team member replied with two preferred providers and his opinion to avoid Loch Ness tour as its all day on the bus with little time off the bus.  As I had done this a long time ago and the monster wasn’t seen then, I had no interest in a long bus ride again so I chose a different tour – one to the Highlands with Timberbush Tours (note: I booked the tour on the vendor website, but to get picked up at the hotel, the concierge needs to make the reservation.  They modified for me when I arrived and it was nice to have a hotel pickup/drop off and save time).

On site the team was great to book my Edinburgh Castle ticket which allowed me to walk up to the entrance and skip the ticket line.   I also was given recommendations for my St. Andrew’s visit as to the best fish/chips and bakery in town (subjective obviously).   The Concierge team was definitely a highlight at the hotel.

One Square Restaurant & Bar at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel

Breakfast is served on the 2^nd floor at One Square Restaurant.  There is a buffet as well as ala carte offerings.  Arranged in a separate space, there is juice/smoothies on one table, fruit on another.  The hot bar of breakfast foods is in a U shape with a chef making omelets.  On the other side of the room is the bread table which included gluten free bread and cereal bar.

When the hostess walked me through the buffet room before seating me, I mentioned I am gluten and dairy free so could I skip the bar and order ala carte.  She was fabulous to ask what I wanted and charge accordingly. I said I just wanted two over easy eggs, a side of bacon and some pineapple.  The buffet cost over £20, my breakfast was £6.  Given that a glass of juice is usually £6 or more, I was quite happy with this reasonable and logical pricing.  The next day when I arrived and there was a host, I said my name and room and he said “your dietary restrictions are noted”. As someone who has had to order the buffet and overpay at hotels, this was seriously a delight.  While I was thinking of brunch at a local restaurant, I really couldn’t beat £6 so I ate at the hotel each morning to save money and time.

Dinner in the One Square bar/lounge let me choose from the fancy One Square menu (Steaks, Duck, etc.) or the lighter bar menu. Both menus have the One Square burger which is a signature dish made in house, so I decided to see if they were as good as touted.  The lounge is a pretty design feature with glass lighting, purple chaise loungers, lime fabric chairs and accent colors and features.  It felt more relaxing than the One Square Restaurant dining area that I was eating breakfast each morning.

Choosing a table by the window inside, I was offered bar snacks which I declined while waiting on my burger, chunky chips (fries) and side of green beans with almonds (had to add something healthy).   I didn’t realize how hungry I was but I ate the entire meal – bun included (so much for my gluten free stint).   It was quite a satisfying meal and tasty – Scottish beef has a different flavor than what we are used to in the U.S.

At the time, the lounge was quiet for a Saturday night until the wedding parties spilled out of the event space on the floor. On previous nights, the bar, lounge and patio were packed during happy hour and later into the night.

One Spa & Fitness Center

The hotel has a separate large facility for spa treatments and the fitness center.  It is in a separate building next to the hotel which can be accessed on the connector bridge from the hotel or via an entrance at lobby level outside in the arrivals driveway.  I didn’t have enough time to book a treatment and since I was walking for hours each day, opted to forgo using the fitness center.

Overall – the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa

I had a lovely stay at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand and would definitely stay here again when in Edinburgh.  It was in a great location to walk from, the staff were very attentive and friendly and the room was comfortable. My view of “what is a Sheraton” has definitely evolved in Europe and based on this visit and my London stay, I would consider more Sheraton stays in the future.  It seems that the Sheraton brand is evolving into an affordable luxury category with modern design and elevated experience, a far cry from the boring budget beige that I’ve long associated with the brand.  The Edinburgh Sheraton was quite “Grand” after all.

Travel diversification means having a points balance in a few hotel, credit card and airline programs can allow you to be spontaneous in your travels.  That’s what happened when my Starwood (now Marriott) account drew me to Malta (a country my family had to Google to figure out where I was).  When I was at the Westin Milan enjoing a Milan Spa Day and deciding where to go next, I saw a fantastic points deal (3,500 points a night!!!) at the Westin Malta (also known as the Westin Dragonara Resort in St. Julian’s.  I asked my friend if I should go to Malta solo to explore the history, the food and see some Game of Thrones sights and he suggested we vacation in Gozo instead (that was a surprise) and that definitely changed my trip.  I would extend my Milan stay moving with points to the Sheraton Diana Majestic before arriving in Malta.  With the Westin Malta Dragonara still on my mind, we decided to stay at the hotel at the end of our Gozo adventure.  I needed a bit of travel luxury & normalcy which in my world is a Westin hotel.  I was able to redeem points (Category 5) for a King Room in June (rates vary) but at the time of my stay rooms were starting at €250.

Westin Malta Location

St. Julian’s Bay is on the corner of the island of Malta (both an island and a country) and close to many shops and restaurants.  It’s only seven miles from the airport. There isn’t a sand beach (there are a few on the island) but both a pool and lido beach deck to enjoy.  You can easily swim in the sea if you want (I really wanted to do this).  We were arriving from the Gozo ferry so I had arranged a car pickup through the hotel concierge.  The driver wasn’t that friendly until my companion mentioned his youth spent in Malta and they started talking about the changes over the years.  As we drove from the ferry area around the curves of the island (funny how six/seven miles feels so much longer on windy roads), I could see the variations of villages.  When we started passing more tourist shops, a Hard Rock Café and I could see the Casino in teh distance, I knew we were in the tourist zone.  When we turned into the hotel driveway, I felt like a real person again on vacation at a luxury resort.

Westin Malta – Lobby Arrival/Check-In

It was a lovely, albeit busy, lobby area as folks were busy checking out on Sunday morning after what appeared to be a fun Saturday night. The high ceilings, contemporary furnishings and gold touches with a view of the water in the background were just what I needed to end my Malta vacation.

As a Gold Member, I had requested early check-in in the reservation and also called the hotel the morning of check in prior to going to the Gozo ferry (we would have stayed longer on Gozo if needed).  I was disappointed to arrive at 1 p.m. to be told that my room wasn’t ready and that they would call me when it was.  “How long will that be?” I asked and the gold member desk girl said “I don’t know but normal check-in is at 3 p.m.”.  The hotel was full the night before with multiple events taking up the 340 rooms and 56 suites. She wasn’t very nice nor welcoming but fortunately would be the only negative during our stay.

We gave our bags to the bellman to store and carried out laptop bags with us to the café by the pool for a drink.  It seemed like too much work to change in the lobby bathroom to use the pool – we had hope that our room would be ready after lunch. Walking down the sweeping staircase, we passed security to the outdoor pool area for guests.

Poolside at the Westin Malta Bayview Bar

It was a gorgeous day and we had hoped for a short wait choosing to stay on property for lunch at the pool side café.  The server was good, the food was the standard hotel pool food fare of sandwiches, burgers, salads.  As this is a Westin, they also have their Superfoods Menu and Juice options available for healthy fare. Instead of being healthy, I opted for burger and fries (they always taste better at hotels don’t they?).  The prices were surprisingly reasonable for a resort property.  The pool was busy with families but there were free lounge chairs available and empty Jacuzzis.  A bonus of a busy check out day.

Westin Malta – Waiting for Check-In on the Patio

I was back at the front desk and told “still not ready” so we moved to the outdoor balcony off of the lobby bar and waited along with many others killing time looking at the pretty pool and ocean views.  We were all anxious to run to our rooms, unpack and get out to the pool and beach lido but were in a holding pattern.  Finally phones started ringing around us, including mine, indicating that our rooms were ready early – it was 2:50 p.m.! So excuse me if I wasn’t excited that the room was ready 10 minutes earlier than normal check in and my gold status wasn’t recognized.

Westin Malta – The King Room

Making our way to the room was easy and as I entered I was in familiar territory – a Westin.  I do love the heavenly beds, shower and overall wellness of the brand. As I entered there is a wet bar with coffee maker on the right as well as a closet with iron, safe and fluffy Westin slippers.

Past the King Heavenly Bed, we had a loveseat and table as well as a desk.  A special treat was the balcony with water view. The colors were muted and I felt the walls a bit bare – they could have done with a splash of color or local artistry.  The Heavenly Bed was, as always, inviting in its comfort (someday I will buy one for my house but am afraid I won’t want to leave home anymore).

Too exhausted from the ferry, taxi and unexpected wait for the room, we decided to decamp on the lovely balcony with a bottle of sparkling wine and food we had brought with us to toast the end of our holiday. The hotel is a U shape with pink and cream colors and the views from the balcony were all stunning.

Westin Malta – Heavenly Bathroom

The Westin bathroom was pretty standard – I could have been anywhere in the world. It was a relaxing space with the familiar green leaf soap and toiletries with the heavenly shower.

Concierge at the Westin Malta

The concierge was wonderful help before and during our visit.  We had chatted on the phone prior to my visit and he was attentive when I was there.  His suggestions were personal and not “here’s a list of restaurants” he explained each suggestion before booking our reservation.

Malta Westin Breakfast at the Terrace Restaurant

The hotel breakfast buffet is one level below the lobby and you can take the stairs if you want.  The offerings were quite impressive with a variety of food stations that formed a U shape with a few separate areas in between. You can sit inside or outside on the patio.  I mentioned to the host that they needed to change out the pineapples on the bar (yes, I used to work in restaurants for many years).  Breakfast was very good.

As I was leaving I mentioned the pineapples again to the host and he said “we did change the pineapple juice”.  When he realized I wanted pineapples for breakfast and they didn’t replace them he sent a waiter to the kitchen to get me fresh pineapple.  He asked what else I needed and I said “I’m good, I just need to find cappuccino for my friend – is there a coffee bar?”  Like that, a takeaway box of pineapple and a cappuccino appeared.  I was really impressed by the service. As a solo diner that morning, the staff were very attentive which is always welcome.

Drinks & Dessert in the ORVM Lounge (Westin Malta)

We chose to dine off property with a ten minute walk on the road outside of the hotel to the area of town with a plethora of dining, bars and tourist shopping.  The casino is a quick walk from the hotel but we chose to return to the hotel.  We went to the lobby ORVM Lounge and Piano Bar for dessert and after dinner drinks.  The staff were so friendly and accommodating.  After bringing our food & drinks we asked if it was ok to go out on the balcony and two waiters appeared to move us outside.  The chocolate dessert was fantastic!

Business Center at The Westin Malta

Since my foot was still injured and I was flying next to Paris, I decided to lighten my suitcase by shipping clothes, shoes and stuff we bought in Malta back to London where my friend lives and my last stop before flying home. I had to trust that he wouldn’t hold my shoes hostage.  The woman at the business center was amazing to sort out the box for mailing back to the UK via the Malta postal service. She said “leave it to me and it will be fine” and it was as the box would arrive a few days later in London.

Westin Malta – Final Thoughts

While the check-in experience wasn’t great, every other touch point of our stay was really good.  The Westin is always my comfortable happy place with wellness features at the gym and on the menus. My friend joked that he could get used to 5 star hotels and this type of service and I laughed and said “that’s what my points and loyalty are all about – fantastic hotels, wonderful service and relaxation in picturesque destinations”.  We both want to go back to the Westin Malta Dragonara Resort and spend more time there to enjoy all that the hotel resort has to offer – especially the pools!

Three years ago, I started writing about my travels and pressed “publish” on this blog.  I had no idea how my life would change from that action – the blog has helped me overcome sudden loss, connected me with new friends in London and around the world and has been my creative outlet during my job transition.  Suddenly I was sharing stories, photos and tips outside my circle of family and friends and receiving feedback from strangers that I would get to know and start to call friends and fellow travelers.  I remember the first time I received a “thank you” and how amazing it felt to play a small part in someone’s trip.  Whether it was a restaurant recommendation, a secret sweet treat or a favorite hotel, someone tried it and liked it too.  I remember when someone said “I booked my stay there next month” and worrying for a month whether or not they would like it.  So after years of suggesting where to go, what to do and helping people plan their journeys, I’m now branching out into a new venture, Arden Road Travel. Vist my new website for more information.

I’ve created Arden Road Travel to help collaborate and curate travel experiences – if you can dream it, I can plan and now book it for you.  I was asked recently “Do travel agents still exist?” and I laughed said, “We’ve evolved and are now your travel advisor, consultant, concierge and therapist all rolled into one”.  I read somewhere that the average person spends time on over twenty websites doing research on where to go, when to go, what to do, how to budget for it and what to pack.  For those who love the thrill of the chase and putting together the DIY puzzle of a trip, you don’t need me but for everyone else, I’m here to help.  You hire experts to save you time, money and provide expertise for all parts of your life why shouldn’t you do so for travel?

My good friend decided to be my guinea pig as my first client after my Virtuoso training. When he tried to crowdsource his vacation (it’s what he does), his group settled on a week sitting on a beach in Cancun. We live in that world where you ask on Facebook or Twitter “where should I go”.  I laughed when he asked “will I like it there”.  Of course, his social media followers know the persona he puts out there but I’ve known him for over ten years and know that he can’t be still so a beach vacation is a horrible fit.  I suggested a cruise on Norwegian from Miami in a studio (solo) cabin.  A cruise allows him to enjoy all the food he wants, provides constant entertainment and has a gorgeous spa/gym to disconnect and relax in his own way.  Knowing what he likes (speciality dining, tours, spa) and doesn’t like (unlimited drinks, internet) helped me craft a vacation for him on a ship that fit him.  He’s been texting me all day with O-M-G with each new feature he found as he explored the ship, I love his spirit and he’s made me smile the whole time.  What a great feeling!

Having spent over twenty years in the corporate, luxury travel space as well as personal travel to over forty countries, I am now rounding out my travel knowledge in the leisure space.  Whether you want to find a hotel or rent an island, attend surf school or a yoga retreat, embark on a cruise (barge, river, yacht, or mass market), I can help you sort through all the choices in the quest to find the right fit.

I’m still working through all of the changes but am excited to open this door to the many possibilities out there to enjoy life as we discover the world together.  I’ve decided to align myself with the Virtuoso network to have access to a plethora of vendors, added benefits and expertise around the world.  Last week, I was speaking with local owners in Belize, Chile and Denver crafting experiences for clients and also meeting the Four Seasons reps to learn about thei properties (I really want to stay at the Four Seasons Orlando at Disney World!).  It’s been fun having personal contact with folks who know and love their products, service and experiences.  I’m not looking in a brochure and putting you on a bus with other people – I’m customizing a trip just for you and your family/friends/pet.

So I hope you will continue to follow my journey here on PhilaTravelGirl and when you need assistance planning your vacation, you visit me on Arden Road Travel or contact me.

Thank you for your support, words of encouragement and patience with the site changes and posting schedule the past few months. 

When it comes to finding the travel deals (and travel hacking) you need to be ready.  There have been so many times when I was shut out of a great deal because I wasn’t a member of the frequent flier club of a particular airline, didn’t have this credit card/membership or wasn’t quick enough.  This time I was ready and waiting for the deal… the British Airways $2,015 Business Class Sale to Europe.

I woke up to a plethora of emails, tweets and Facebook posts declaring the great two day business class sale to Europe from British Airways which was good until July 2016! A business class flight to Madrid from Philly could be had for $362!!  How could I not try to find my own deal? While I’m looking for a job (which I could do from anywhere on my laptop), it made no sense to plan out next years’ travel so I focused on the short term holiday – Thanksgiving (and my birthday). Every year I tend to travel for my birthday (last year Iceland, the year before Australia RTW) so I looked at my options (less than a month away).  Having spent three months earlier this year on travel sabbatical in Europe I wasn’t sure where to go to celebrate in November.  Should I visit the cities I missed because of my foot injury (Brussels, Bruges and Ghent) or should I keep it simple and catch up with friends in London?

London Always Wins

It’s my birthday so rather than spend it alone, I decided to be with friends in London, and it doesn’t get better than that (although the sun would have helped a bit).  I also applied for a press pass to The Taste of London food event at Tobacco Dock as well as a hotel site visit at Z Hotels in Soho.  A mix of blog business and pleasure.  So how would I make this work because I didn’t have $2,015 to spend?  I read a few posts from The Points Guy and One Mile at a Time because they are generally the first to fill my social media stream and they offer step by step “how to” take advantage of the deals. I was so tempted to buy tickets for summer 2016 but without job certainty, I couldn’t risk it as the tickets in I class were non-refundable and changeable for $500 fee + fare differential.

My Travel Hacking Tools

To know why this $2,015 fare sale was a BIG DEAL, you had to be prepared to whittle the fare down with everything you had available.  I had the following:

1. I was a member of the British Airways Avios program
2. I had a Chase British Airways Visa card for the 10% online booking discount
3. I had my new AARP membership card (ok, I resisted this one for a while as I’m not old enough but there’s no age requirement) for the British Airways discount of $400 in business class

Finding a Ticket to London

I logged into my AARP account (my best friend tortures me about this but it’s a savings tool) hours before the end of the sale and clicked on the British Airways link. From there I could search fares and the discount was automatically applied to the prices on the screen. For a business class ticket to London, the discount is $400!!! (Membership fee is as low as $16 a year, I’d say totally worth it. Discounts vary by class) so the fare was showing as $1,600 and change.  That’s still a lot of money with or without a job so next I had two options

1. Use my 10% online discount with the Chase BA Visa card for $160 savings and a net fare of $1,460. Again a fantastic price when compared with the normal $5k fares from Philly to London or against the high summer coach fares
2. Use the “pay with Avios” feature to reduce the cost of the fare. If you choose this option, you can’t stack the 10% option as the code is invalid. There are many points options to reduce the fare, I chose the largest option.  For 30,000 Avios points, I received a fare reduction of $743 which meant the ROI on the points was about 2.5%

Final Pricing

So I found the Philly – London ticket, via Manchester, on a British Airways codeshare with American Airlines. The bonus to the American Airlines flight is that due to the merger with USAirways, the plane equipment (USAirways) has a configuration of 1-2-1 on business class.  The BA flight (Club World) has a 2-4-2 configuration (BA First Class is 1-2-1).  So the American flight gave me a window seat and aisle access as if I’m flying in First Class (sadly no pajamas).  I would also have lounge access in Philadelphia, Manchester and London Heathrow on this ticket as well as earn full mileage points on British Airways.

The flight to London via Manchester meant a change of plane so I decided to go carry-on (hand baggage) only.  I called British Airways to confirm that the connection time was legal and that I wasn’t going to need to run through the airport (I made sure there was a later flight just in case of delays/missed connection).  Connection times are very important as I wasn’t familiar with Manchester airport and the time was less than two hours to go from international through immigration to domestic. I was told it’s a small airport and I should be fine (it was a bit nerve wracking, but that’s a separate post to come).

I used the AARP price and reduced it further with the “Pay with Avios” feature so that with taxes, the final business class flight to London cost $855.71.  By comparison the coach flight was about $650 so my business class ticket is $200 more.  Not a bad birthday present to myself.

London Hotels

I’m decided to use my Starwood SPG points for the hotels in London finding the newly added Great Northern Hotel and the newly renovated (still under construction) Sheraton Park Lane for only 12,000 a night (ROI of 2.5% as the rooms are over £200 per night/$300+). I broke up the hotels with a stay at a friend’s house outside the city so my total time in London would be 11 days.

Costs for 5 Nights Trip to London

• Business Class flights on American Airlines (1-2-1 config) – $852 + 30,000 Avios
• Three Nights (Couchette Room) at The Great Northern Hotel – 36,000 Starwood points
• One Night (King Room) at The Park Lane Sheraton – 12,000 Starwood points
• One Night (Standard Room) at The Sofitel at Heathrow due to early flight – $200
• Airport Train from Heathrow via the London Underground Piccadilly Line – estimate $30 with Oyster Card
• Miscellaneous – Chocolates, Cupcakes, Food, Wine, Pub, Fun

So are you ready for the next fare sale to pop up?  Where will you go?

***Note: The hotel is no longer a Kimpton property as of February 4, 2016, my stay occurred in 2015 when still a Kimpton managed property and this review is reflective of that.  To my knowledge the owners are not making changes to staff or decor so all should hopefully be the same as when I experienced it****

Turning into the hotel driveway, my friends and I were instantly impressed by fire lit torches that lined the entry road. As we stopped, the car doors were immediately opened by the valets who welcomed us to Hotel La Jolla (a Kimpton Hotel).  For me, this was a wonderful way to end the very long day with the cats, for my friends, they were regretting not staying at the hotel as they made their way to their new apartment in Carlsbad, approximately twenty minutes away.

Location La Jolla

La Jolla is a posh little beach town with a variety of cafes, water sports and the famous golf course at Torrey Pines.  A five-minute walk from the hotel is the shore line street with cafés and further down the road, you are at the La Jolla Shores beach.  In the other direction, you are in the village with shops, restaurants and a view of the many seals. The hotel offers a free shuttle (up to two miles) as well as providing a beach bag and umbrella (if only I had brought my bathing suit!).

Check In and Lobby

With only a carry-on bag, I made my way to the front desk through the large doors and into the expansive very modern lobby to the front desk.  Aubrey welcomed me and when I said my name, her eyes lit up and said “we are so excited to have a cat on the property this weekend as we always get dogs”.  I felt instantly sad when I crushed her spirit and told her that my carry on cat was on her way to her new apartment and was not staying with me.  Aubrey then told me of her recent move from the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Miami and how she was waiting for her cat to join her soon.

The lobby has two distinct seating areas with leather furniture and various chairs and sofas. There is also a large fireplace. Opposite the front desk is the morning refreshment station and the entrance to the outdoor bar, patio and pool area (you need to hi-five the fireplace to open the door – cute!).

Walking on the hard wood floors and past the simple but stylish décor, I made my way to the elevators (the gym is not far from the elevators on the ground floor) to go to the 9^th floor.  The hotel has eleven floors with the top floor housing the restaurant, Cusp, which has a fantastic ocean view.

When the elevators opened, I was surprised that I was outside again.  I hadn’t realized that this hotel wasn’t fully enclosed – it definitely reminded me of the shore motels of my youth. Having welcomed the air conditioning of the lobby, I was now back in the heat on the way to my room.

Standard King Oceanview Room

Opening the door, I was enveloped by the air conditioning as I noticed the litter box on the floor and the bottle of wine with food tray on the table.  Kimpton really does take care of its guests – human and pet.

The room was a generous size with a king sized bed, a cluster of decorative lights in the corner and a long counter with a flat screen, minibar and drawers.  With a leather chair and ottoman, the space felt very inviting.  The small balcony had two chairs to sit outside and look at the view.  I had a lovely view of the palm trees and the ocean in the distance (as well as the gas station, Starbucks and Subway on the corner of the busy road).

The minibar was very Kimpton and my friend Fred (the water bottle) was there.  Since I’m a Kimpton Karma member, I’m allowed a $10 Raid the Minibar credit and I usually spend my money on Fred.

The large closet had the signature Kimpton robes and yoga mat as well as an iron, safe and luggage rack.

Bathroom

Just like the EPIC hotel in Miami, the La Jolla Hotel had an open view bathroom space, this time from the shower.  You can control the curtain from inside the bathroom if you don’t want your roommate to get the full Monty view.  Standard C.B. Bigelow toiletries.  Plush towels, the hairdryer and other toiletries were all nicely arranged on the shelving next to the sink.  Now I did have the “only Sue” issue with the toilet flushing, it took two days to figure out the right handle technique (I’m always a bit daft on toilets) when I realized the handle was slightly broken which was causing my issues.

Cusp Restaurant

I visited Cusp Restaurant once for breakfast and had a window view.  Surprisingly, the breakfast of two eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast was a reasonable $13.  I wanted the special pancakes but they add ricotta cheese to them and I need to avoid cheese.  The service was quick and friendly offering a few directions and suggestions on what to do after breakfast (go to the beach).

Customer Service

As I was leaving Cusp, I chatted with the hostess, Kat, who recommended a few entrees on the dinner menu if I was returning later as it was San Diego restaurant week (on a Saturday!?).   I asked about where to find cookies (no surprise here) and she knew where but had forgotten the name.

No worries, I said, I’m sure I’ll find it.  By the time I rode the elevator down two floors and got to my room, Kat had called my mobile and left a message with the name of the shop, The Cheese Shop!  She also was ringing my room and when I answered she told me that The Cheese Shop has great sandwiches and are known for their oatmeal cookies.

When I arrived in my room, I called the front desk to request a toothbrush and toothpaste and asked that the litter box be removed as well as the cheese plate (I’m lactose intolerant so only ate the bread).  A member of housekeeping was knocking within ten minutes.

One downside was that on Sunday, housekeeping didn’t arrive until near 5 p.m.  I had declined housekeeping on Saturday so when she tried to get in the room (no knock), I asked that we just exchange towels.

Room Service

While I wasn’t in Philly, I was still able to watch the Pope mass on television before meeting friends for dinner. My plan was to order room service and enjoy on the balcony before the event.  However, my plans were thwarted when I realized they don’t do lunch room service (breakfast & dinner only)!  Luckily, the hotel is next to both a Subway and a Starbucks.  I quickly ran downstairs and through the hedge to get my lunch and snacks.

Concierge

I had emailed ahead of time stating that I would be arriving late.  During my stay the front desk provided great recommendations for food in the area, I would dine each day at Storehouse Kitchen. Once for lunch and twice for breakfast (separate review to follow).  The front desk also provided a map and explained the options near the hotel as well as the shuttle information.

The Pool/Bar/Patio Area

After my stroll to the beach and procuring the cookies after talking with the shop’s owner, I relaxed at the patio bar before it was set to open for a special event – a Whiskey Tasting.  Using the quick Wi-Fi, I enjoyed the slight breeze, the quiet and caught up on social media.

The pool had three couples and one child lounging and swimming and I had to laugh when I heard they were all from Philly escaping Pope Weekend but didn’t know each other. The pool is a nice size with lots of towels, lounge chairs and even a disabled lift to access the water.

At night the outdoor bar area was full with guests and locals enjoying the music and toasting s’mores!  As I was busy each night, I only got to see the action as I was coming back to the hotel after dinner.

Overall

The Hotel La Jolla by Kimpton is a lovely property not far from San Diego.  The beach is a ten minute walk down the shore line streets filled with a plethora of cafes and bars.  There were many families on the beach, tons of kayakers and sun worshippers of all ages. Sadly, the kayak tours were all sold out during my visit so I will need to go back and when I do I’ll stay here again.  Maybe next time, I’ll borrow a cat.

For my stay, I redeemed an “award night certificate” from my Kimpton Karma loyalty account and paid $227 + tax for each night as part of a guarantee rate match.