Check In

I arrived at the W Atlanta – Midtown on Monday at 8pm, a little later than usual.  The lobby was pretty quiet, and I was # 2 in line for the check-in desk.  Once at the desk, I was pleasantly assisted by Tyson (have no idea if that’s how she spells her name, but I think that’s how it’s pronounced).  My Starwood Platinum status was recognized and I was thanked for my loyalty.  Interestingly, Tyson even apologized that no suites were available for my stay.  (Note: as much as I love being upgraded to a suite, I’m very happy with my “Spectacular” room.  I’m in town to work, and regular rooms have a desk with plenty of light and power outlets.  The 2 suites I’ve been blessed to experience here had something like dining tables with chairs, and not a normal work desk.  I know….cry for me.)  One item of note: I was offered a card entitling me to one bottle of water from the mini-bar for each day of my stay.  This is new, and certainly valued by me.  According to the card, this benefit applies to all SPG Gold and Platinum members.

The Room

My “Spectacular” room, 2218, is a city view room with a King bed.  It’s plenty spacious for a business traveler, comfortable, and typical W “trendy.”  First thing I did when arriving at the room was turn on all the lights.  I found the desk lamp to be non-functional, but a quick call to the Whatever/Whenever desk addressed that.  Additionally, the laptop safe would not open.  Security came up to check it out as soon as I called.  There was some mechanical issue with the safe which could not be immediately resolved.  They offered a new room, but I declined.  I can lock my personal laptop away in my luggage.  If someone wants to take that…well….  bummer.

Spectacular Room From Entryway

A Different Angle

There is plenty of storage space, and the closet is ample for a 4-night business trip.  The bathroom is spacious, and the walk-in shower is very nice.  All in all, other than the weird safe issue, a good start to the stay.  I’ll update the post tomorrow as I continue my rolling review.  For now, off to the W Living Room for a night cap.  Here are a few more pictures for you.

Around the Hotel (Dining Out)

There are some really good restaurants very near the hotel, and Spice Market, located in the W is no slouch either.  I’ve posted before about my 2 nearby favorites, Shout and TAP Gastropub.  Shout is just around the corner from the W Midtown, and I’m a big fan.  In addition to the restaurant, there’s a large patio and bar upstairs that makes for a great evening out in warmer months.  Atlanta is experiencing some very nice weather this week, but traveling alone on business, I usually just belly up to the bar for dinner.  I travel here enough that the bartenders recognize me.  Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.    Billy at Shout is a great bartender.  Shout’s menu is varied.  They have everything from Ribeye steaks (recommended) to sushi (also recommended). TAP Gastropub, on the other side of Peachtree, is a short walk from the W Midtown.  TAP has a small but interesting menu that is worth checking out.  I’ve never had a bad entree, but I think my favorite dish there are the fried chicken tacos.  Tasty!  By the way, TAP is a Rewards Network participant.  Never leave miles on the table!   There are so many restaurants in Midtown.  Next trip I’ll try to venture out a little farther from the hotel and blog about some other restaurants.  I’m really looking forward to trying the Oceanaire Seafood Room in Midtown!

If you’re working in downtown, you can’t go wrong with Dantanna’s at CNN Center.  Great food, reasonable prices.  I frequently lunch there, and if I’m hoteling nearby, usually do dinner there as well.  Never had a bad meal here.  And I have to admit, I’m an unapologetic fan of Ruth’s Chris, located in the Embassy Suites Centennial Park.

Random Observations

• No newspaper was delivered to my door on any day of my stay.  Newspapers were available in the lobby and in the elevator vestibule on my floor.  I only mention this because sometimes, the hotel delivers a paper each day, and sometimes they don’t.  Have no idea why this is inconsistent.
• Lobby bar service was good.
• Internet (comp for SPG Platinums, and in the Lobby Living Room) was stable and fast.  If you’re not SPG Platinum, the price is $14.95 for 24 hours for in-room internet.  The hotel offers free internet in your room if you can tolerate slow speeds.  I’ve tried that, and it’s fast enough for a quick google search or a look at your web based email.  But if you really need to work, don’t bother.
• At check-in I was given a card describing “Tipsy Tuesday.”  Basically, if you’re staying in the hotel, you’re invited to Tipsy Tuesday in the Spice Market bar for drinks and comp appetizers between 6pm and 7pm.  I didn’t make it back to the hotel in time unfortunately!

Wrap Up

All in all, an OK stay.  It’s no secret that this is my favorite Atlanta area property.  This was my 3rd stay since attaining Starwood Platinum status, so I’m 2 for 3 on suite upgrades.  I think that’s an OK record so far.  I like the great Midtown location, easy access to restaurants and nightlife, not to mention Atlanta’s MARTA rail (Arts Center station).  I highly recommend the W Atlanta Midtown for your Atlanta area lodging needs.

I recently completed a 3-night stay at the W Atlanta – Midtown.  This was not my first stay at the hotel, and I have reviewed it previously.  But given the time that’s passed since that review, I thought it would be nice to give you an update.

Getting There

The hotel is located in the trendy Midtown section of Atlanta.  I typically use Atlanta’s rail system, MARTA, for transportation to/from the airport, and this visit was no different.  Although located in Midtown, the closest MARTA stop for this hotel is actually the Arts Center station.  From there, it’s less than a 10-minute walk to the hotel.

Check In

Arriving at the hotel, I was warmly greeted by bell staff stationed out front, and offered assistance with my luggage.  I politely declined and proceeded to the front desk.  The front desk representative was wrapping up with a customer just as I walked in, so I had no wait for check in.  The gentleman working the desk was very courteous and professional, noted my Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status, and that I had several prior stays at the hotel.

The only wrinkle in the transaction was once again caused by my Chase Corporate Card.  For the second time in 30 days, my card was declined when attempting to check into a hotel after purchasing a MARTA ticket at the airport.  The front desk rep was even kind enough to offer to call on my behalf, but I told him I’d handle it as another guest was waiting behind me.  A phone call resolved the issue in a few minutes, and my card was working again, allowing me to complete check in.

The Room

My 23rd floor “Spectacular Room” was a typical W room with modern furnishings, 37″ LCD TV, a comfortable king bed, and an awesome view of Atlanta’s great skyline.  The desk area is well lit, comfortable and both wired and wireless internet are provided for a pricey $14.95 plus tax.  (Note: If you only need to do a quick email check, take advantage of the complimentary wireless internet in the public areas of the hotel including “The Living Room.”)

The bathroom was large, and equipped with a great walk-in shower that I can only describe as very “Euro-trendy.”  I’m sure there’s an actual name for the design, but I know you won’t be disappointed.

I noted on entering the room that the air conditioning vent had a bit of a rattle when air was flowing through.  I thought about trying to ignore it, but I knew that come bedtime, things like that tend to keep you awake.  I called the Whatever / Whenever desk where the very nice person apologized profusely and said they’d send engineering right up.  Within 5 minutes, a technician was knocking on my door.  Turns out some insulation had gotten loose inside the vent, and that was causing the rattle.  Big time MJonTravel gold stars to the hotel for taking care of that super quickly!

Fitness

The hotel is equipped with one of the better gyms I’ve seen at any hotel.  It has a W-esque name: Sweat.  There’s enough cardio equipment that I’ve never had to wait for a machine, and there is plenty of strength training equipment too.  Cardio machines are wired with cable, like a good gym should be, so bring your earbuds.

Not much of an opportunity to use the pool in January, but it is a nice one.  Here’s a link to the hotel’s website with a description.

Around the Hotel

There are a number of restaurants within a short walk from the hotel.  Two of my favorites happen to be very close by.  Shout is just around the corner and serves up great food with a menu as varied as sushi to tapas to pretty darn good steaks.  I’ve tried a little of everything, but this week, I went for the double grilled pork chops.  If you don’t have a problem with pork, I recommend you try them!  Just across Peachtree St from Shout is another great restaurant, TAP.  Great beer AND great wine, great food, great vibe.

The dining highlight of my trip however, was Tamarind Seed Thai Bistro.  I’m not the biggest Thai food fan on earth, but I don’t mind it.  I’ve been thinking about trying this restaurant since my first trip to the area a couple of year’s ago, and one thing I’ve always found there was a crowd whenever I passed by.  Now I know why.  I had the shrimp and scallops.  Sounds basic, but it wasn’t.  This was inspired Thai food served by gracious hosts.  Give it a try if you’re ever in the area.

The W Atlanta – Midtown is also home to a great restaurant all its own, Spice Market.  I didn’t visit this time, but based on past experience, dining here is worth the visit.  Biz travel tip: Dining alone?  Take your laptop and dine at the bar.  You can access the hotel’s wi-fi and get a little work done too.

My favorite place for a cocktail after work, or a night cap is none other than the hotel’s Living Room Bar.  Grab a seat at the bar, or ensconce yourself in one of the comfortable couches, and enjoy a drink and the great W scene.  This week I actually got a little work done in “The Living Room” where the wireless internet is complimentary.

Random Observations

There is no in-room coffee, but the W Atlanta – Midtown serves good coffee (as opposed to the typical in-room swill at more mundane hotels) in the lobby.  I like to work out early, and by the time I’m done, the coffee is usually set up and ready to go.  Grab a cup on the way back up to the room and enjoy it with the morning paper.

Every employee of the hotel that I passed in the hallway, lobby or anywhere went out of their way to smile and say hello.  Even the morning front desk clerk made a point to say good morning when I passed by on the way for coffee.  It was like they’d been trained by my favorite cruise line on how to treat people.  Maybe life in DC has jaded me to the point that I notice the least bit of “niceness,” but I thought everyone did a great job of having that little “W” edginess about them while somehow managing to be pleasant at the same time, and I liked it.

The Bottom Line

If you couldn’t tell, I like this hotel a lot.  For whatever reason, I’ve been trying to stay very close to my Atlanta work site lately.  That has it’s good points, but I think staying at a hotel I actually like means more to me.  For future trips to Atlanta, you’ll find me at the W Atlanta – Midtown.  See you there.  And don’t forget to register for Starwood’s first quarter bonus promotion.

I recently completed a 2-night stay at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta.  This was a business-related stay, and the Omni happens to be the absolute closest hotel to my Atlanta work site.  Given that I’ve done about as much as I can do with my usual hotel programs, and my need to maximize my office time for such a short trip, I booked the Omni.  I’ll talk about Omni’s frequency plan later, but for now, let’s focus on the stay itself which was flawless.

The hotel, as the name implies, is located at the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta.  The south tower is located within CNN Center, and is attached to the north tower via a bridge which is completely climate controlled.  The hotel is easily accessed from the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport via Atlanta’s subway system, MARTA, and the Georgia Dome/Phillips Arena/CNN Center Station. 

Check-in

Check-in was friendly and would’ve been swift were it not for my corporate credit card.  It seems that my purchase of a MARTA roundtrip at the automated fare machine at Hartsfield tripped off JPMorgan-Chase’s fraud sensor.  Nevermind that every trip I’ve ever taken to Atlanta starts with the same purchase after touchdown, and my airplane ticket to Atlanta had been purchased with the same card for travel that day.  Oh well, a phone call and a few questions answered and I was back in business and on my way to my 10th floor room.

The Room

Access to rooms on all floors at the Omni Atlanta requires insertion of your room key in the elevator.  My room, 1021, was located a the very end of the coridor and was a nice Deluxe King.  Equipped with all the furnishings one might expect, the room was comfortable and quiet, just the way I like them.  If I could improve one thing about the room, I would’ve liked a little brigher lighting at the desk.  Otherwise, it was just fine.  I was offered a mini-bar key at check-in which I turned down, but a review of the iventory list revealed that the mini-bar was equipped with your basic sodas, a few beers, liquors and snacks.  Complimentary wi-fi is provided to Omni Select Guest members, and worked fine as far as I could tell.  I thought the bathroom was larger than usual, but that could’ve been due to my corner location.  Granted, it was a corner with a view a large building, but a corner room nonetheless.

Around the Hotel

The hotel is connected to CNN Center which is home to a few restaurants and bars, a Starbucks, and of course,  CNN.  My work schedule typically doesn’t allow for a tour of CNN, but I hear it’s a nice one.  I know I really enjoyed the CNN New York tour I once had the opportunity to take.  The hotel is steps from the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca Cola and Centennial Olympic Park.  You can always catch a Hawks game at the adjacent Phillips Arena.

Several restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel, and a few are located within CNN Center itself.  A favorite of mine is Dantanna’s.  The restaurant markets itself as an upscale sportsbar, and I guess that description fits the bill.  I tried the filet this visit, and while I wouldn’t say it was up to Ruth’s Chris standards, it was VERY good, and a great value.  Ruth’s Chris happens to be located a block away, and that’s another dining option if you’re on the prowl for great steaks.  Another nearby restaurant that I highly recommend is Peasant Bistro, which I’ve written about before.  If you’re looking for a quick drink at the hotel, Latitudes Bar is an excellent, is somewhat crowded, option.  If you can’t find a seat there, Dantanna’s offers a full service bar as does McCormick and Schmicks which is also located within CNN Center.  If you want to work off those calories, the hotel offers a reasonably well equipped fitness center on the 6th floor of the north tower.  There’s also a full-service spa, which is located adjacent to the fitness center.

Omni’s Loyalty Program

Given that this was only my 3rd stay at any Omni property, I thought a quick word on their loyalty program was in order.  Omni Select Guest is not a points based program like Hilton HHonors or Marriott Rewards.  Select Guest is pretty basic, you can either choose to earn 1 free night for every 10 nights stayed, or 500 airline miles per stay.  Select Guest’s domestic airline partners are limited to American AAdvantage and United Mileage Plus.  Amtrak Guest Rewards is also an option.  The list of partners can be viewed here.

Although not in line with your more traditional points schemes, their program does have some unique features which I think make Omni worth considering.  One of my personal favorites, Select Guest members can have fresh brewed coffee delivered to their door each morning.  Not a huge deal, but I still like it.  And yes, in-room coffeemakers are still provided.  Select Guest offers 3 levels of membership, Gold, Platinum and Black, with better perqs coming with each level.  With only 3 stays or 6 nights required, the middle status level (Platinum) is quite attainable for most and offers the added benefit of upgrades and late checkout privileges up to 3pm.

The Bottom Line

I really liked the hotel.  Service was great, and the location, unbeatable for me.  Easy MARTA access, and a location reasonably close to downtown Atlanta make the Omni a compelling option for Atlanta-bound travelers.  I’ll be back.

I recently completed a one-night stay at the fabulous new W Washington Hotel.  This stay coincided with the anniversary of MrsMJonTravel and myself, and included a visit to Bliss Spa for her and Bobby Van’s Steakhouse for both of us.  If you haven’t visited this hotel since the days of the Hotel Washington, get ready for a wow experience, especially if you are fond of W’s style.  One note:  the hotel address is 515 15th St NW, but the main entrance appears to be on the F Street side of the hotel.  If you need porter service, have your driver drop you on the F Street side, or walk around.

Check in

We arrived at the hotel at approximately 12:30pm, which is a bit early.  We were prepared to wait for the room, but needed to get to the hotel for her 1:30pm spa appointment.  We were warmly greeted and checked into our room.  The front desk attendant was very outgoing, recognized my Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status, and stepped us up to a “Spectacular Room” from the “Wonderful Room” I’d reserved.  She noted that we were DC locals and asked if we were just staying for a nice evening out.  I told her that we were celebrating our anniversary with a spa visit and dinner, and she cheerfully exclaimed that she was surprised we didn’t tell her.  After exchanging pleasantries, we were off to our 8th floor room.

Later in the day we were pleasantly surprised with a split of champagne and some chocolates along with a note from the Whatever/Whenever desk thanking us for celebrating our anniversary with them.  (Thank you note enroute to the GM with praise for the front desk whom I’m sure was behind our surprise.)

The Room

Our spectacular room was standard W “chic” with modern accessories.  The desk was polished white along with the closet.  There was big focus on brighter colors in the room where most W’s I’ve visited seemed to have a darker decor in the room.  W did a good job of making the typically small rooms of an older hotel very functional.  The electrical panel for the work desk was underneath the desk which made for a clean space.  Wired or wireless internet is available in the room for a pricey $14.95.  (2 hours of free wi-fi is available in the lobby.)  There was a large LCD television and DVD player as well.  I’d describe the bath as “Euro-modern,” pretty large, and equipped with a very nice walk in shower.  They typical Bliss products were provided.

Around the Hotel

While MrsMJonTravel enjoyed the Bliss Spa, I enjoyed a glass of wine in the lobby, referred to as “The Living Room” by W.  The wine was nice, but not worth $16.50 per glass.  At least the internet was free.  If you haven’t been since the old Hotel Washington days, you’re in for a surprise.  W did a nice job with the lobby, and I thought it was beautiful.  My visit offered the opportunity for some people watching and it was evident that the hotel was quite busy.

Washingtonian’s will remember the rooftop of the Hotel Washington as offering some of the best views in the city.  This hasn’t changed, but W has stepped things up a notch with its remake of the old rooftop bar now called P.O.V. (Point of View).  After enjoying our fabulous dinner at Bobby Van’s we returned to the hotel and decided to enjoy a nightcap at P.O.V.  The lobby of the hotel was packed with a party crowd, and there was a line for the dedicated elevator to the roof.  However, a flash of our hotel keycard indicating that we were guests got us a spot on the next elevator ride to the top.  The views are still unbeatable and the crowd was trendy.  It was a nice way to end the evening, but this particular Saturday night was very busy at P.O.V.  Based on my conversation with the bartender in the lobby, weekends can be quite crazy at the W Washington.

The hotel’s restaurant, J&G Steakhouse, has had some good reviews, but we did not partake.  You can read descriptions of J&G and the other hotel lounge and dining options here.

Nearby Dining

You read my mention of Bobby Van’s.  Our steaks were wonderful.  I made our reservations via Opentable.com, and noted in the comments that we were celebrating our anniversary.  We hadn’t been seated for more than a minute before our waiter appeared with champagne glasses in hand wishing us a happy anniversary.  A great start to a simply fabulous meal.

Washington favorite, Old Ebbitt Grill is just steps from the W as well.  Old Ebbitt is part of the Clyde’s group of restaurants and has a similar menu.  It can be relied upon for good food, and the half-price raw bar happy hour is not to be missed.  It is a very popular spot, so I highly recommend reservations if you would like to dine there.

There are other restaurants within walking distance, but these are the 2 that I’m most familiar with.  I highly recommend either of them.  Just be aware that if price is a concern, Old Ebbitt will be your most economical option.  But you won’t get a bone-in ribeye like I had last night at Bobby Van’s!

The Bottom Line

The W Washington is a great hotel in the center of everything that Washington has to offer.  If you like the W brand, you’ll love the W Washington.  Give it a try the next time you’re in town.

Business has brought me to Wichita, Kansas this week.  Wichita is home to a number of aviation-related industries, including general aviation stalwarts Cessna and Bombardier Learjet.  My lodging choice for this week is the Residence Inn Wichita East at Plazzio.  This is my first Marriott stay in well over a year, and I have not been disappointed.  I never purposely avoided Marriott Rewards properties in the first place, and in fact, I like Marriott.  It’s just that my travel needs have seemed to direct me toward Hilton HHonors properties more so over the past two years.  So coming back to Marriott has been like visiting with an old friend again.

Residence Inn is pretty basic, so I will not offer a full review of the hotel.  But trust that the Residence Inn Wichita East is a brand new property, with comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and a location that is convenient to many businesses such as Hawker Beechjet.  I plan on staying here again should business bring me back to Wichita.

Wichita has exceeded my expectations for restaurant choices and things to do after work.  The city has obviously invested in bringing business and people downtown.  I’m particularly fond of Old Town Wichita, an area of converted warehouses now home to many restaurants, bars and loft apartments.  Among several choices, I found Uptown Bistro to be a real gem, and highly recommended by the locals I spoke with.  Good food, good wine, and good company made for a great meal.

I can’t visit the midwest without a visit to the local steakhouse, and this visit to Wichita was no different.  Scotch and Sirloin, apparently a Wichita legend, was recommended by colleagues, so I had to give it a try.  Believe me when I say that I was not disappointed.  The ribeye was perfect, but I hear the prime rib is even better.  The atmosphere was very much “old-time” steakhouse, and should not be missed if you’re in town.  Reservations are recommended, and I could see why.  We were seated immediately on our Monday night visit, but I didn’t see another empty table in the restaurant.

Tomorrow, I leave for Chicago.  I’ll have a hotel review for that as well as a full review of my first ride on one of American’s brand-new 737-800′s.  I’m scheduled to ride one of the newly delivered Chicago-based birds home to DC on Friday.

Regular readers know that I make occasional trips to Atlanta over the course of the year for work.  Little did I know that in all my visits I’d been missing out on a true gem of a restaurant, Peasant Bistro.  Located at 250 Park Avenue West, in downtown Atlanta, Peasant Bistro is a charming two-story restaurant facing Centennial Olympic Park.  The restaurant resides in the same condo/hotel complex as the Embassy Suites Centennial Olympic Park and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.  How I hadn’t bothered to walk down the street behind the hotel, I couldn’t tell you.  But in a testament to the power of miles and the things people like me do to collect them, Peasant Bistro popped up on the Rewards Network list on my most recent search of Atlanta restaurants, and I decided to give it a try.  It was only when I mapped its location that I realized how close it was to my hotel.

A very inviting bar area greets you as you enter the restaurant.   The main restaurant is upstairs, and I think inviting is a good word to describe the atmosphere.  Accented with just the right amount of light, and complemented by ample candlelight, the restaurant has the makings of a great date spot.  Traveling alone this week, I decided to dine at the bar so I won’t be able to comment on dining service in the main restaurant, but I can’t imagine that it’s anything less than good based on my experience.

The restaurant offers a well appointed wine list with everything from reasonable to expensive available to accompany your meal.  I chose the Rutherford Ranch Cabernet ($9/$32), red wine drinker that I am.  Looking over the menu, the first thought that came to mind was how delicious everything on the menu looked.  But being in the mood for steak, I quickly narrowed things down to the Meyer Ranch Rib-Eye ($31), served with a pommes puree and sauteed morels.  I couldn’t help but think that I was in for a treat as Peasant Bistro was one of those places that you kind of know is going to be good the minute you walk in the door.

When my meal arrived, I knew right away that it was going to be fabulous.  Presentation is fun for food critics, but for me…well, I just wanted a good steak.  I received a phenomenal steak!  Served bone-in, this was one of the better cuts of rib-eye I’ve ever enjoyed.  Seriously, the steak was over an inch thick, and leaner than most rib-eyes.  Cooked perfectly (medium rare), and packed with flavor, I haven’t had a steak this good in a long time.  The sauteed morels were an unexpectedly tasty addition to this fabulous meal.

I really went over the deep-end and ordered dessert, something I don’t normally do.  But the bartender talked me into his favorite, simply referred to as the Chocolate Bar.  I’m not finding it listed on the online menu, but words like wonderful, decadent, awesome and to-die-for come to mind.  It wasn’t over-sized and was perfect for one person, and worth every extra calorie!

A fabulous meal in a fabulous restaurant.  If business or pleasure take you to Atlanta, check out Peasant Bistro.  I’m sure you will not be disappointed.

Hi from Atlanta.  Flew down Monday on Delta, and return to DC tomorrow afternoon.  Lord I miss being Delta Medallion!!!  I had to ride in coach, no less!  Bunking at the Embassy Suites Centennial Park this week.  I’ve reviewed it before, so I won’t bother with a new one.  I have discovered a fabulous new restaurant that I will review in full, as soon as possible.  Peasant Bistro is a real gem, and if travel brings you to downtown Atlanta, I recommend you find it!

American was first out of the gate with results this week.  They were pretty much as expected….bad.  And in the best example ever (well, aside from my own departure) of the brain drain the domestic airline industry faces, Larry Kellner of Continental announced that he is leaving the airline at the end of the year to run a private equity firm.

More to say this weekend.  Stay tuned.

Mrs. MJ on Travel and I recently completed a one-night stay at the chic Conrad Miami Hotel.  The hotel receives mixed reviews on FlyerTalk.com, so I was anxious to give it a try and see if the hotel had improved since the first reviews were posted on Flyertalk.

Check-in

We took a cab from Miami International to the hotel.  The fare was around $25.00 for the two of us and our expansive cruise luggage.  We were immediately greeted by the bellman upon arrival who took our bags and explained to us (although we already knew) that the hotel lobby was actually on the 25th floor.  There is a concierge desk on level one that I understand provides check-in services, but we proceeded to the 25th floor, appropriately marketed as “Level 25″ by the hotel.

Upon exiting the elevator, we were cheerfully greeted by the front desk staff who checked us in to our bay view corner room within minutes.  The desk clerk remarked that he “loved my credit card” which is a Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express.  We collected our keys and proceeded around the corner to the elevators which took us to our 17th floor room.  Yes, our room was actually below the lobby level.  The rooms above level 25 are condominiums, many of which are “sold” as hotel rooms when the owners are away.

The Room

Our room was a corner bay view (apparently an upgrade from what I’d booked) tucked nicely away from the elevators.  The room was well appointed with all the modern amenities one expects from Conrad.  The bathroom was enormous and blessed with windows stretching the entire length of the wall.  There were dual vanities, and a separate tub and shower.

Things to Do

Downtown Miami is not crawling with activity.  However, there is a Gordon Biersch restaurant one block away that featured live music on the night we arrived.  We spent most of the evening wih friends of ours at the Level 25 Bar.  I won’t tell you how many bottles of wine the four of us drank.  We also enjoyed  a few delicious appetizers.  The tab was surprisingly light considering our consumption.  Don’t get your hopes up as it was just north of $200 dollars, but still much better than I’d feared.  After a slow start, our server turned out to be quite polite and attentive.

We dined at the Atrio Restaurant on the 25th floor for breakfast the next morning.  I received complimentary continental breakfast as part of my Hilton HHonors Gold VIP benefit.  The hotel was running a special the morning we dined including hot breakfast items (eggs, sausages, hash browns, etc) as part of the continental offering.  So we received basically a full breakfast for free.  The continental buffet was well appointed with numerous fruits, pastries, cheeses, and deli meats in addition to the featured hot food items.  Service was polite but not overly gregarious.  Probably just about right considering how late we were up the evening before.

The hotel features a nicely equipped fitness center that was not crowded at all.  Equipment included a full range of strength training machines as well as the usual batch of cardio devices like bikes, treadmills and ellipticals  Complimentary bottles of cold water are provided so remember to hydrate!

The Bottom Line

I know this review is a little light on intricate details.  We didn’t spend a lot of time at the hotel after arriving late in the evening and checking out before noon the next morning.  I’ve read some not so flattering reviews on FlyerTalk about the property, but I decided to give it a try and see for myself.  Outside activities are a little sparse to recommend the hotel for anything like a weeklong South Florida vacation unless the price is really right and you have transportation.  In the end, our stay worked out fine and I have no complaints at all.  I’d certainly stay again for a brief business trip, or like this visit, one night pre-cruise.  In summary, I like the Conrad Miami overall.  Give it a try if you think it might meet your needs.

(Posted from 24,000 feet via Gogo Inflight Internet.  Get $4 dollars off your next GoGo session between now and July 3rd by entering promo code 4wifi)

I recently completed a 3-night business related stay at the Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) Atlanta Downtown (HHonors Category 4).  The hotel is a new construction in downtown Atlanta near Centennial Olympic Park and convenient to several downtown attractions including CNN and is MARTA accessible.  I picked the hotel based on its proximity to my worksite in Atlanta and its participation in Hilton’s latest HHonors promotion which I’ve posted about.

Check Out

I was greeted warmly by the front desk attendant, and asked if I wanted to use the form of payment I’d provided when making my reservation.  I did, and within seconds I was on my way to my 9th floor room.  No muss, no fuss.

The Room

My 9th floor “Evolution Room” was perfect for a 3-day business trip.  The room included a King bed, a reasonably comfortable chair with footstool, large plasma TV, and well-lit desk.  The room provided a view of Atlanta’s Midtown area.  Complimentary internet access was available with either a wired or wireless connection.  It’s nice to have the wired option for those who work for the kind of employer that views wireless access as something akin to launching a space shuttle.  Fortunately, I am now able to use wireless with my work computer, and the connection reliability and speed were flawless.  The bath was large enough, with adequate lighting and a teriffic shower.

Hotel Facilities

The fitness center was well-equipped and I was the only user during my 5:30am visits.  There’s an outdoor pool as well as a video arcade co-located with the fitness center.  I saw a guest laundry on the same level.  I made use of the hotel’s valet laundry service during my stay.  They did a nice job on the clothes but I had to go down to the front desk to get them.  Unsure if they would have eventually been delivered to my room or not.

Dining Options

The hotel itself contains a great restaurant, Atlanta’s first Legal Sea Foods.  Legal operates a lobby oyster bar as well as full-service rooftop restaurant and bar with spectacular views of the city.  Prices are ok, but if you are a wine drinker, I recommend going for one of the half bottles on the list as they are usually a better deal than buying by the glass.

If something a little more land-based is your thing, I recommend Stats which is across the street from the hotel.  Stats offers good food, lots of cold beer, and more TV screens than you can count.  Another favorite of mine just down the street from Stats, is The Wine Loft.  The Wine Loft has a vibe I like along with food and wine I love.  Best of all, they participate in Rewards Network, so you’ll collect some extra miles while you drink and dine.

Check Out

Nothing unusual about checking out.  My bill was correct, and checking out via the in-room TV system went off without a hitch.

The Bottom Line

I’ll stay again.  This is a new hotel, and it shows.  No scratch marks on the furniture yet.  It’s convenient for my work downtown, close to MARTA, and has a handful of dining options nearby.  If traveling to Atlanta for business or pleasure, and you need to stay in the downtown area, the HGI Atlanta Downtown is worthy of your consideration.

Hilton HHonors has joined the Rewards Network program.  Register online and earn additional Hilton HHonors points for dining out at participating restaurants.  Complete details are available at the HHonors Dining website.  Maximum earnings are 8 points per dollar spent for “Elite” members of the program (11 dines required).  It’s set up similarly to other airline programs.  Not the most generous, but certainly an easy way to pick up some extra HHonors points.  I’ve registered my HHonors Surpass Card from American Express with the program, so I’ll pick up even more points.

Edited 9/24/09:  Apparently my review wasn’t enough.  Rumberos closed this week.  But you can still visit its sister restaurant, Rumba Cafe, in Adams Morgan.

Rumberos is located in the up-and-coming Columbia Heights neighborhood in northwest D.C. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday (closed for lunch on Monday). On Sundays, Rumberos offers a fantastic brunch menu followed by dinner.

Rumberos features fantastic Latin and South American inspired cuisine with a little bit of Caribbean thrown in for good measure, all at reasonable prices. I recently enjoyed the Bife de chorizo for dinner. Translation: a 14 ounce ribeye, which is prepared Argentinean style over a wood fired grill. The steak was perfectly prepared and the “wood fired” flavor really came through. Frankly, it was one of the better steaks I’ve had in D.C. Service was polite but not fast. That was fine by me. I spend enough time in a hurry and it was nice to slow down, enjoy wonderful food and soak in the great atmosphere the restaurant offers.

If you’re in the market for lighter-fare, Rumberos has a decent happy hour special featuring $4 dollar beer and wine and $6 dollar Mojitos. They also offer a menu of Tappas specials for $4 dollars each. Bar service has always been top-notch with a good drink list and nice array of wines. On many weekends, you’ll find live music at Rumberos in the evenings. It gets crowded so get there early for dinner and then enjoy the music.

If you’re looking for a new place to dine, give Rumberos a try. You won’t be disappointed. And for you miles junkies out there, Rumberos is a participant in the idine program, so you’ll get miles for dining too.