The nice ladies of Beverly Hills who give the trolley tours often don’t know where the REAL Hotel California that the Eagles wrote about in their famous “Hotel California” song is located. We were amazed that we had to get the information on the Hollywood Starline Tours instead. So when I got home from Beverly Hills, I began singing that song, “Welcome to The Hotel Califoria.” Then it stuck in my head and just like my visit to California many years ago, it hooked me. And sure enough, as I tried to check out and return home, I couldn’t leave. But what a sweet pleasure living in the Hotel California! Here’s my effort to commemorate this lovely place. HotelCaliforniaUSA - Welcome!
Long Beach, Calif. - What does $5.6 million get you? More business, hopefully, when you’re a hotel across the street from the Long Beach Convention Center. While Hyatt Regency Long Beach is connected to the convention center and does very well at selling its rooms and meeting space, places such as Marriott’s Renaissance Hotel across Ocean Blvd. are working harder to snag some of that traffic. Marriott has invested in a hotel that’s gone through several renovations and now will sport a chic, new look in its restaurants, meeting space and hotel rooms and suites…>more
OK, so it’s costs a little more to stay at Balboa Bay Club luxury resort hotel. Billed as the only Newport Beach hotel with a beach on site, is it worth the price? We tried it out and found it was pretty nice, actually. While the luxury hotel, The Island Hotel (formerly Four Seasons) garners similar prices atop the hill next to Fashion Island shopping center, Balboa Bay Club is in the heart of the bay action. On weekends it can be mesmerizing, watching what seems like hundreds of little sailboats and sabots bobbing along the bay as students learn how to navigate the gentle waters of Newport Beach. The hotel has a lap swimming pool that many of our Newport swimming buddies have long enjoyed–those who I used to swim 4000m with daily at Los Caballeros in Fountain Valley. In addition, there are some nice restaurants serving gourmet meals, and a truly Newport Beach atmosphere, catering to the likes of John Wayne, Ronald Reagan and countless actors and politicians.
Queen Mary ship in Long Beach California is one of the most documented hotels where ghostly encounters reportedly occur. For those who seek something quite unique, the rooms and cabins are small, so just remember you’re experiencing a part of history in a ship that served royalty (see picture on left of the The Queen Mother: Her Majesty Queen Mary) and then transported troops from Great Britain to the U.S. Black and white photos don the walls of this fantastic vessel saved for posterity as a museum, hotel and entertainment venue. When visiting Queen Mary for tours or accommodations, be sure to try the Sunday Buffet, too!
Ventura - Finally, the former Holiday Inn transformation to an ocean-front Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach is complete! We stayed at the hotel during the renovation and loved our new hotel room. A spectacular venue atop the Crowne Plaza at Ventura Beach offers sweeping city lights and ocean views. The place just needed a bit of new carpet, wall coverings and shine. We can’t wait to see what they’ve done with the meeting space. It is guaranteed to be the shining star of Ventura. Other properties nearby such as Pierpont Inn offer historic bends. See other new attractions items.
California Hotels New in 2007 - more California Hotels feature greater amenities, new services, designer decor and lots to enjoy when traveling:
Pismo Beach - Mission Inn Pismo Beach opens for the 2007 travel season. The Mission Inn of Pismo Beach, the central coast’s newest hotel, is opening January 12, 2007. Nestled on a hillside overlooking the town of Pismo Beach and the Pacific Ocean beyond, the Mission Inn offers 120 spacious rooms and suites with handsome appointments and elegant amenities. Some guestrooms feature panoramic ocean views and patios, and all rooms have large, flat-screen televisions, in-room movies, refrigerators, safes, microwave ovens, adjustable work desks, large windows, doorbells, central air and heating, Mp3-adaptable clock radios and beautifully-appointed bathrooms with polished granite countertops. The Mission Inn also offers guests complimentary wireless and hard-wired internet access. A hot breakfast buffet in the hotel’s Café every morning and an evening reception in the Lounge every night are popular amenities that make your stay an even greater value. On top of that, the hotel has full catering services, over 1,600 square feet of meeting space, a business center, gift shop, fitness center, pool and spa. Location: 601 James Way, Pismo Beach , CA 93449. Reservations: 805-773-6020
Anaheim - Hotel Ménage, the premier boutique hotel and resort offers 240-rooms in a renovation of the public space of the former Holiday Inn. Several new elements: the award-winning k’ya restaurant; a hip, candle-lit lobby bar and lounge; the Mist pool bar; the Red Room—a business center with a lush twist; and seven uniquely themed breakout rooms. There is 4,700 square feet of flexible indoor conference and special event space, as well as an outdoor pool deck venue with more than an acre of space set to also host a nightclub on Friday and Saturday evenings…>> There are 16 more hotels to read about
Boutique B&B’s and Historic Properties - There are some hidden gems in California that don’t have enough hotel rooms or suites to sell through the GDS system that most travelers book their hotel rooms online through. It’s a lot more difficult for them to spread the word so we’re going to mention a few who have contacted us. One hotel is along the Mendocino coast, one of the most beautiful places in all of California (if you like wildflowers, deer, seals, sea lions on rocks and hikes through the fields and forests.) The other historic hotel is situated in California’s redwood forests in the charming town of Weaverville.
Dennen’s Victorian Farmhouse - (800) 264-4723. This beautifully-restored bed and breakfast inn is situated on two coastal acres near Buckhorn Cove and the Pacific Ocean. Cozy, AAA three-diamond quality and personalized service all make this worth the trip you’ll enjoy to getaway for romance or just to escape.
The Weaverville Hotel & Emporium - (800) 750-8853. Beautifully decorated with designer accents and historic photos, the Weavervill Hotel & Emporium is located in the heart of this historic town near the Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park. Enjoy a breath-taking drive down redwood-lined roads to Weaverville, which is located less than an hour’s drive from Redding, or under two hours by car from the coastal city of Eureka. Address: 203 Main Street, Weaverville, CA 96093-0537
January Vacations in California - The New Year’s celebration has ended but travelers don’t seem to be heading home just yet. Hotel bookings around the state are up with people enjoying warm weather at the beaches, less crowds at Disneyland and winter sports in the mountain resort communities. Less traffic, clear skies and affordable hotel rates are making 2007 look very strong for travel, regardless of economic predictions for housing and other sectors. Like food and shelter, people seem to need vacations in tough times as well as good. This week alone we’ve spoken to travelers from New Jersey, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon, all staying in California hotels and loving the sunshine and warm weather. There’s ample availability at chain hotels near the beaches, even on weekends. Mountain resorts fair best on week days.
2007 hotel reservations in California are reversing the end-of-the-year trend in 2006 in which the majority of accommodation stays lasted only one night. Just over 50% of travelers are staying longer with two, three and even five night stays. Those numbers should continue to rise to longer stays as California edges into spring and summer.