billm's profile and reviews

This Marriott benefits from an excellent location at the less crazy southern end of South Beach. This is a good thing, as things are relatively quiet here but you are still very close to the hot action of Miami Beach.

The hotel is a jazzed up version of those relatively small, but colorful properties that help make Miami Beach world-famous. The rooms that face the beach and the Atlantic ocean are usually pricier, so I opted instead for one with a city view. My room on a high floor was nice too, and I had a balcony facing west with superb panoramic views.

The accommodations were comfortable, although I was surprised to encounter a Marriott with such a tropical color scheme in its soft goods. The amenities such as the large bar of soap were also nice. Since the hotel is basically on the beach, it was invigorating to wake up in the morning and take a walk along the beach. For a few moments it really felt like I was enjoying my private stretch of beach alongside my personal oceanfront. The lobby area leads to the outdoor pool and Jacuzzi in the back, again overlooking the beach. There are also some cozy nooks near the pool where you can lounge outside, but in the shade.

The Westin River North is another fine hotel in Chicago located along the north bank of the Chicago River. It used to be the Nikko, so there are still some tasteful Asian-themed touches in this hotel. It has a dark contemporary design, and the lobby feeds on that because it has rather dim lighting to create some sense of serene aura, I suppose.

I have stayed here several times and the rooms are quite nice without being extravagant. The large beds are comfortable as are the bathrobes provided for guests. The clean contemporary appearance of the rooms is definitely a nice change of pace from the flowery prints found in so many hotels. I have enjoyed attending numerous meetings and dinner functions here and the service and products are reliably pleasing. The restaurant on the main floor has changed several times over the years, and that just goes to show you how tough that piece of business can be.

The hotel has a small gift shop on the mail level past the elevators, and a health club but no pool. The riverside promenade is a nice spot to relax a bit, and there is a small Japanese garden that is unfortunately overlooked by most guests. This Westin is not to be confused with the slightly older Westin just north of the John Hancock Center.

The Fairmont Miramar has such a sensational location in Santa Monica. It is across the street from the ocean side promenade which leads to the bustling Santa Monica Pier. Part of the hotel complex supposedly dates back to the 1920’s, but my room definitely did not seem that old. Our bright and spacious accommodations included two double beds with a good number of fluffy pillows. The decor is cheerful without being too feminine. The bathroom was very nice, and I admit I enjoyed getting a chocolate on my pillow after the turndown service.

We really enjoyed our balcony, which faced longingly at the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean. The views from the balcony were stunning day and night. I did not eat any meals at the hotel, but I bought a few items from a store and ate on the balcony (what a simple yet exhilarating experience!). The fair property has the look and feel of a resort, but fortunately also has the simultaneous urban quality thanks to a good selection of trendy restaurants and shops in the area. Parking at the Fairmont Miramar can be costly, but there are a good amount of less expensive parking options in downtown Santa Monica.

The Sheraton Brookfield is located in a suburb of Milwaukee. Yes, this is suburbia, so you are essentially surrounded by highways, strip malls, and chain restaurants. Perhaps it might be better to stay in Milwaukee, but a deal is a deal. That being said, this hotel is not too far west of Milwaukee (about fifteen minutes by car) and for what the room rate can be it is a decent place to stay.

The hotel has its own free outdoor parking lot for guests as you can imagine. The design of the hotel is not particularly memorable, from the lobby to the hallways to the guest rooms themselves. Again this is not really a knock against the hotel, but it is just a bit bland and ordinary. Still, everything functioned in our standard room with two double beds, and the bathroom had the reliable selection toiletries.

I tried out the small workout room, which is equipped with clean towels, magazines, a television, and drinking fountain. There is an indoor pool and Jacuzzi too, but on this particular weekend morning it was inundated with kids in need of a water park. The hotel also has a restaurant and bar along with a few vending machines, but we drove to a nearby restaurant for dinner instead. If you like suburbia, the Sheraton Brookfield is actually a super place to stay.