Silas Griffith Inn, Danby, Vermont

North America > United States > Vermont

Silas Griffith Inn 178 South Main Street Danby, Vermont

By Dave Grossman, Hotel Magician February 2007 We had a lovely 2 night stay at this historic Inn located in Danby, Vermont – about 15 minutes from Manchester. The Inn is, as most B&B’s tend to be, owned by a husband and wife team. She runs the kitchen (Emma’s) and he mans the front desk.

Located on top of a hill near the (extremely small) town’s church, the Silas Griffith Inn consists of a main house that includes reception, a lounge area for guests, and one guest room, and a large second house which houses Emma’s downstairs and several guest rooms upstairs. There is a hot tub located outside which, while open year round, might be a bit scary to get out of during the cold snowy winter months! There is an outdoor pool as well.

We stayed in Georgia’s room which was very nice. Our favorite feature was the fireplace which doubled as the heater – controlled by thermostat! Nice bath amenities were provided although it was a bit small and lacking a tub. You can only expect so many modern amenities in a historic Inn! The Inn has some modern comforts but would be considered more “homey” than upscale.

Breakfast at Emma’s was absolutely delightful. Like your own mother cooking. We samples pancakes, French toast, omelets, bacon (they excellent Vermont maple coated kind!), sausage, and fried potatoes and were impressed both mornings. Everyone there was extremely polite as well and made us feel right at home. We did not sample the dinner fare as we wanted to explore Vermont more.

Hotel Magician Hot Tip

For dinner our first night we ventured to another Inn called the Swiss Inn. They served a wonderful Swiss dinner of raclette and fondue and we’d go back anytime. A word of warning on driving there, though: In Vermont some roads close during winter and become snowmobiling trails. This makes certain routes *much* longer. In this case, Danby – Mt. Tanbor Road was closed making the travel from Danby to the Swiss in about 40 mins rather than 20. There are also no warnings that a given road will end until you are right up on the end – and in-car GPS’s will not know the difference.

On the way back to New York, we stopped at the Equinox Resort in Manchester. Far pricier than the Silas Griffith Inn, the Equinox Resort and Spa is also one of the oldest Inns in America. Look for a future review.

Hilton Toronto - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hilton Toronto 145 Richmond Street West Toronto, Canada M5H 2L2

By: Dave Grossman Hotel Magician, December 2006

It’s hard to imagine a better hotel for a traveler needing to be in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada than the Hilton Toronto.

We’ve been staying here on occasion for years now but it seems it only gets better with age! From the lobby to the check-in to the recently renovated rooms, the experience is always a classy one.

In the last few years, a major renovation has been completed leaving the hotel in great shape from the bottom to the top. Ride one of the exterior elevators up to your room and enjoy a marvelous view of the Toronto skyline. We had this view of the CN Tower right from our room!

For executives, the 32^nd Floor lounge is an absolute oasis in the sky. Available for use by anyone paying for an Executive Floor room or

anyone who has attained the Gold or Diamond level in the Hilton

Honors program, the 32^nd Floor lounge is often discussed by frequent travelers as one of the best in North America. For its service, breakfast selection, evening Hors D’oeuvres and complimentary beer and wine alone it would be worth it, but add in great views, free WiFi internet access, and a staff that goes above and beyond and it becomes world class. Take Jessica, a check-in agent on the 32^nd Floor (where Gold, Diamond, and Executive Floor guests can check-in) who remembered us from the last time we stayed there, 12 months ago, before even looking up the name on the reservation. Impressive! There is also an expansive boardroom that can accommodate a meeting up to approximately 10 people (and there is a small fee per guest if they are not on the Executive Level or a Gold/Diamond member).

On to the rooms. If you’re not staying on the Hilton Toronto Executive Levels, we highly recommend asking for a room on the 25^th or 26^th Floor where the rooms have been renovated to a new standard that includes a rain shower. Of course, these rooms cannot be guaranteed before arrival, but it's worth asking! The picture gives you an idea but it’s like a whole small room for your shower, with a big rain showerhead in addition to a hand controlled showerhead. It’ll wake you up or relax you based on your adjustments.

For dining, there is an on site Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse as well as the Tundra Bar and Restaurant (with upscale northern Canadian fare) and Barrister’s Bar. Ovo is their simple morning option for pastries and coffee. The subway is only a block away.

The Hilton Toronto also provides a pool and full fitness centre. If we had to pick out anything we didn’t love at the hotel it’s the approximately $30 daily parking charge, but we suppose that’s as much a function of its downtown location as anything else.

DG

Sheraton Centre Hotel - Toronto, ON, Canada

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel 123 Queen Street West · Toronto, Ontario M5H 2M9 By: Dave Grossman Hotel Magician, December 2006 Situated right in the financial district and convenient to Union Station and the rest of downtown – in what is known as the downtown core – the Sheraton Centre Toronto is ideally suited for business travelers. This hotel was very recently refurbished from top to bottom. All hotel rooms have new finishes and all now have the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, which makes for a great nights sleep. In summer, the half-indoor/half-outdoor pool makes it a great family hotel as well. In warm weather, both the pool and the outdoor garden area are big selling points. In winter, while still perfectly suitable for families, it feels a bit more oriented toward the business crowd. There is a well sized health club with elliptical machines, treadmills, free weights, various weight machines and there are several TVs positioned for viewing while working out. While the fitness area is free if you stay in a Club Floor room, it carries an additional charge (CDN$9 as of this writing) if you are in a standard room. The pool is free for all guests, however. There are two dining options in the hotel. We tried the lively Traders off the lobby. It’s got way more of a beer selection than a food selection but the sandwich we had was quite good. It’s a very casual and large bar with a dining area as well. Service was excellent – especially for an in-hotel restaurant. On a Thursday, the bar was packed at 10PM. There is also a steakhouse off the lobby that we did not review. Additionally, a lobby area café serves Starbucks coffees and espresso drinks, pastries, etc in the mornings from 6am. Very nearby the Sheraton Centre Toronto on Queen St. is a Starbucks (in the TD Canada building) and a Tim Hortons. The expansive lobby is full of comfortable places to sit, should you need to wait for friends or simply read and people watch. We were also able to pick up a WiFi signal there but we can’t guarantee that will always be available! DG

Le Meridien Nice - Nice, France

Europe > France > Nice

Le Meridien Nice

1 Promenade des Anglais Nice 06000 France

By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, October 2006

Comfortable, well-located, and on the waterfront. These words sum up the Le Meridien Nice in a nutshell.

Comfort: As part of the Le Meridien brand one expects and receives a certain level of comfort. The hotel delivers at that level. It is not at the level of the Le Palais De La Mediterranne or Hotel Negresco. It is not a 5 star Luxury Collection hotel. But it is above the standards of most chains and we don’t expect anyone would be disappointed with the level of comfort here. On a recent trip we were upgraded from a Classic to a Superior room which offered a small standing-room-only balcony and a slight view of the sea from that balcony. As Starwood Preferred Guest Gold members, they also provided us with a complimentary bottle of Evian and a tray of fresh strawberries.

Location: The location at 1 Palais Anglais is perfection. Direct access to the beach (be aware that the “beach” in Nice is one made of stones but is still usable and does attract many “beach” goers) is a prime benefit. But the hotel is also well located for getting to and from the airport – just a 15 minute drive on the Palais Anglais – and to a large “Zone Pieton” (a street for pedestrian use only – i.e. tourist central). Allow us to recommend the restaurant “La Tavernne Massena” right smack on the “Zone Pieton” on Rue Massena. Wonderful place for pizzas and homemade pasta at an affordable price. The only area this hotel is not quite near is the “old city” – one that we were less impressed with than in other Riviera towns.

Waterfront: This probably doesn’t need much explanation but out the door and across the street and you’re on the water. Pretty sweet. The Casino Ruhl is also in the building.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician: The Mercure Palais Anglais hotel also shares the building (the actual hotels are completely separate – the Mercure is on the lower 2 floors while the Le Meridien Nice is on the top 7 or so). Nothing is shared between them and you’d never know they shared the building if you didn’t pay close attention. If you are looking for this exact location and don’t mind trading in some in-room quality for a lower rate, it may be worth a look.

-DG

Le Meridien Beach Plaza - Monte Carlo, Monaco

Europe > Monaco > Monte Carlo hotels

Le Meridien Beach Plaza 22 Avenue Princesse Grace Monte Carlo, Monaco

By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, October 2006

In our opinion, there are three hotels you stay in when in Monte Carlo: Hotel De Paris – right next to the famed Casino, the Fairmont Monte Carlo just down the hill from the Casino, or the Le Meridien Beach Plaza.

Who should choose the Beach Plaza above all else? Beach lovers. During the warmer months, the outdoor amenities of this resort will not go unnoticed. Complimentary beach access and loungers (it’s the only hotel in Monte Carlo with private beach access). Not one but two swimming pools (In French, “deux piscines”) – one outdoors with salt water and one indoors, heated.

Want to truly pamper yourself? Stay on the rooftop 11^th Floor and get access to a personal concierge, nightly apertifs brought to your room, plush oversized rooms with Hermes bath products, and most with balconies overlooking the sea. The Jr Suite we stayed in also included complimentary valet parking, buffet breakfast, and internet access. Rates are not for the small-of-wallet but nor is Monte Carlo as a whole – if there’s a place to splurge, this is it.

The hotel offers high speed internet access and a business center for those traveling without a computer but needing to check-in online.

There is also a very nice restaurant in the hotel offering breakfast (buffet), lunch and dinner. The dining area is open 24 hours for hungry casino-goers.

The entire hotel has a very upscale and hip feel to it. Almost all of the rooms have been recently been renovated. You may want to call or write before check-in or confirm at check-in that you’ve been assigned a renovated room.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician: If you are a Starwood Preferred Guest member and have a sizable bank of points, you can book a Junior Suite as described above for a relative steal. At the time of this article, it would set you back between 14,750 and 18,750 Starpoints, depending on the season. Upgraded Starpoint reservations can only be made by using the Starwood phone number on the back of your Starwood membership card. You can also combine paid nights and award nights for a complete trip. First, make the reservation for your paid nights through Hotel Magician. Then, call Starwood to make the award booking and ask them to “tie the reservations together” using your Hotel Magician confirmation number.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician #2: If you’re a casino fan, you will no doubt visit “The Casino”. Of course it’s worth a visit as the building is awe inspiring, but be aware you will pay E10 to enter and the tables number about 6 along with a small room of slots. We advise you to pay and enter anyway, but save most of your gambling for the casino on the left side of the Café De Paris restaurant. The tables have lower limits and the slots outnumber the ones in the main casino by at least five-fold. From the Le Meridien Monte Carlo, expect to pay 10-15 Euros for a taxi – or enjoy the walk which is about 20 minutes.

-DG

Le Meridien Garden Beach, Juan Les Pins, France

Europe > France > Juan-Les-Pins hotels

Le Meridien Garden Beach 15 17 Boulevard Baudoin Juan Les Pins, 06162 FR

By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, October 2006

Juan Les Pins was an interesting diversion on our trip around the French Riviera. Guide books had referred to the area as the “Coney Island” of France. Well, our offices aren’t far from the real Coney Island, and Coney Island this is not.

That said, Juan-Les-Pins *is* a nice little beach town with perhaps a bit of the crowd that might venture to Coney Island. It’s not the crowd that you would find in say, Cannes or St. Tropez. This is a more middle class town and that lends a bit of fun to it. It also keeps prices down a bit.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician: Parking in the hotel lot is expensive. What they probably won’t mention is that there is free parking all around the park just past the hotel and there is normally a free space or three to be had. If you’re normally comfortable parking your car on the street, these spots will do just fine.

The Le Meridien Garden Beach hotel is the ideal spot to enjoy a night or two in Juan-Les-Pins. It is directly on the beach and shares the property with the Eden Casino – a centre of night life in the town albeit a small casino. It’s a nice property for the area. The hotel rooms have been renovated (although the building is not as new as it used to be) and would be considered a solid 3-Star hotel. A Sea View room offers a beautiful view of the beach as they are situated directly above it – and for that reason we recommend selecting this room type. Starwood Preferred Guest Gold and Platinum members might be upgraded to this room type based on availability. If a member of the program, when booking be sure to select “Other Rates” and select a regular (not SaveRate) rate plan. HotelMagician.Com SaveRates are not eligible for SPG stay credit / Elite privileges but our regular rates (pay at checkout) are. In colder months, a pool is available in the health club (additional charge)

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician #2: When you check-in to the hotel, you will be given your beach passes. You will need to present these outside to get your beach chair. You will also need to return these at checkout or face a penalty charge. Don’t lose them! Also, they will charge for you to sit in the first two rows of the beach. But keep in mind that behind that, it’s all free (if you are a hotel guest).

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician Tip #3: Dinner. There are only a few decent options right in town, though a few are right on the water. But take a very short drive to the old town in Antibes and you will find a treasure trove of restaurants in the pedestrian walkways. French, Italian, and Alsatian options abound. One even has fondue – a French food quite elusive in the South of France.

-DG

Noga Hilton Cannes hotel - Cannes, France

Europe > France > Cannes hotels Noga Hilton Cannes 50 Boulevard de la Croisette Cannes, 06414 FRANCE

By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, October 2006

If you want to be right in the middle of the Cannes action, the Noga Hilton Cannes is where to stay. Were you to snag a room here during the Cannes Film Festival, you’d no doubt encounter some of the cinema elite in the lobby.

It is not quite what you might expect heading in – the Hilton’s rooms harken back to the 80’s in a somewhat campy décor. But somehow it works. You see, everything is in pristine shape – it just is decorated from an era gone by. The service is excellent in the hotel – from the valet to check-in to housekeeping. A true 4 star hotel. It’s location is also ideal, with prime beach frontage.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician: Hotel parking is not inexpensive (E35 as of this writing) but forget about street parking. With two hour limits and the hotel’s prime waterfront location, you might as well valet the car and enjoy your trip.

The suites are magnificent – if you have the means, we highly recommend them. A recent stay in the Ambassador Suite was nothing short of amazing with a balcony (with a view of the water and a table and chairs for dining al fresco) and 4 rooms (work area/foyer, living room, dining room, and a bathroom the size of a New York apartment with a massive circular whirlpool in the middle).

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician #2: The beach directly across from the hotel charges E25 + for a chaise lounger. The area directly to the left of it is about half the price. The beach is just as good ;-)

The hotel also features an (included) rooftop pool with absolutely stunning views of the Sea. There is a restaurant and bar on the roof as well and they do make the dining area available for private functions.

Pictures below: Whirlpool in Ambassador Suite, Work area in Suite, Overhead view of lobby

-DG

Le Meridien Lingotto hotel - Torino, Italy

Europe > Italy > Torino Le Meridien Lingotto Via Nizza 262, Turin 10126 Italy Phone: (39)(011) 664 2000 By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, September 2006 The hotel is situated in the Lingotto Exhibition and Congress Centre, notable as it is an ingenious renovation of the previous Fiat factory. Designed and decorated with distinctive Italian flair by the famous architect Renzo Piano, the Lingtto actually has two hotels to choose from – the Le Meridien Lingotto and the Le Meridien Art + Tech. While this review is only of the Le Meridien Lingotto, the Art + Tech is reputed to be as good if not better and also runs slightly higher price-wise. Art + Tech is, as the name might imply, a bit more focused on art and has rooms that are a bit more chic.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician: If you are staying at the hotel you may ask your concierge for a key to the roof during daylight hours. With the key in hand, you can ride up to the Pista Restaurant (Pista means roof) and let yourself out onto what used to be the test track for Fiat. Nice view as well!

The rooms at this hotel form a rectangle around the gorgeous courtyard – full of trees and natural beauty – and drinks are served here at night weather permitting. Deluxe rooms have the city/mountain views and feature an additional sitting area in the front of the room while the Superior rooms face inside and lack the sitting area. The rooms are quite large in size, especially for Europe. Most rates include a buffet breakfast (croissants, coffees, eggs, rasher bacon, sausage, cereals, breads/jams, etc). Quite nice and your best bet in the immediate area. The adjoining shopping center also provides “quick service” fare. The area: Note that the Lingotto complex, which also includes a large shopping mall, is about 10 minutes out from central Torino. This is about a 15 Euro taxi ride or a 0.90 Euro tram or bus ride. If driving, the hotel provides parking (complimentary as of September 2006 but you may wish to inquire with the hotel directly if it is a concern). Overall a very pleasant stay and the staff we encountered spoke excellent English and were very eager to please with advice on attractions, restaurants, bars, cafes and the like. -DG

Hotel Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame - Nice, France

Europe > France > Nice Hotel Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame 28 Avenue Notre Dame Nice 06000 France By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, September 2006 We chose this particular hotel for two reasons. The first was price. On a recent 2 night stay we paid about USD$150 a night. Not bad for central Nice in Fall. The second reason was location: at Notre Dame and Ave Jean Médecin, it is very centrally located. You are near all the centre-ville sights and only a 20 minute walk (or 3 minute taxi) from the water. Note that we also review the Le Meridien Nice – which is right on the water if that is more your speed. Back to the Mercure… part of the Accor chain of hotels, the Mercure is about a pleasant and simple stay at reasonable cost. It succeeds at this. The rooms are small (but not tiny) and are well kept and nicely appointed. There is a small rooftop pool on the roof of the hotel that makes for a pleasant swim at summer. Parking is available in an almost-connected lot next door for (as of Sept. 2006) 10 Euros a day on your hotel bill – good through 1pm the following day. Breakfast is included only in some rates so check when you book with us by reading the details of the rates carefully. Don’t choose a higher priced rate for breakfast, though. There are several exceptional bakeries (boulangeries) in the immediate area for crossaints, quiches, croque monsieurs, etc. While for a luxury hotel in Nice, we recommend the Le Palais de la Mediterranee, or Hotel Negresco, and, a step below, the Le Meridien Nice, the Mercure Notre Dame provides a perfectly enjoyable experience at a much more affordable price. While we did not review the Mercure Palais Anglais that sits on the water adjacent to the Le Meridien, it is reputed to be equal to the Mercure Notre Dame with regards to their rooms at a location right on the water – again, if that is your preference and it is in season. NB: As of the time of this review (2006) a tram is being constructed along Ave Jean Médecin. While it will be great when complete, it is causing some traffic tie-ups at the moment. Functionally, the location still works – but allow a little extra time if driving to figure out where you can turn during the construction. -DG

Le Centre Sheraton Montreal hotel - Quebec, Canada

North America > Canada > Quebec > Montreal Le Centre Sheraton Montreal 1201 BOULEVARD RENÉ-LÉVESQUE OUEST Montreal, QC CANADA By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, September 2006 In a very central location, the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal is a great choice for either a business or a leisure stay. Located on Boul. Rene-Levesque, right near Peel Street, it is convenient to many of the local area tourist attractions by foot and is only a short cab or Metro ride to Old Montreal. Rooms are moderately to nicely sized, depending on room type, and the staff and management are very professional and courteous. The fitness area on the 6th Floor includes 2 stair masters, 2 eliptical machines, free weights, and TVs to watch whilst working out. The pool is small to medium sized with a max capacity of 45. Morning coffee and evening drinks are available at the quaint bar themed as a library complete with books that you may read while sitting there. A bistro option is also available on-site at standard hotel prices but we found better options nearby the hotel Expect to find rooms in the CDN$200 (USD$180) and up range although promotional rates and packages are occasionally offered. Book the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal. If you are looking for a more “hip” hotel and are traveling alone or with a romantic companion, we’d also recommend the trendy W Montreal which is located a bit closer to the old town and has a more hip atmosphere complete with an exclusive bar that will have a queue at weekends but hotel guests can, in most cases, jump the queue. Prices at the W tend to be just a bit higher than the Le Centre Sheraton. -DG

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