Recommend August 2013 - (Page 26)

kimpton takes center stage in san francisco continued from page 24 out and about Hotel Monaco makes for a great home base to explore San Francisco. It’s in a central location near the shops at Union Square, where travelers can also hop on the cable cars, and not a far walk from the gate to Chinatown. San Francisco is a great town for a stroll since downtown is so compact, but its public transportation system also makes it easy for travelers to get to some of the top sites in the city, such as Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, a waterfront marketplace where travelers can see the sea lions basking in the sun; the iconic Haight Street; Golden Gate Park; and The Golden Gate Bridge, to name a few. And if your clients are heading to San Francisco next month, let them know the city will be hosting the 34th America’s Cup Finals in the bay. packaged deal LANE NIESET Above: The Starlight Room at Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Right: Chinatown is one of the city’s most eclectic neighborhoods. a carousel of outlets, as well as built-in outlets in the nightstands (perfect for charging a cell phone), and more than enough space to spread out—making the room ideal for workouts. We rolled out the in-room yoga mat and did an early morning Pilates video, available on the brand’s on-demand yoga and Pilates channel. One of our favorite new additions at Kimpton is the complimentary Roll-Out Service, where a member of the hotel comes to roll out the mat and supply guests with extra towels, ﬂavored water, and fresh or dried fruit and nuts. While we didn’t call down for the service, we did enjoy the fact that it was so easy to squeeze in a workout while traveling, especially since we didn’t want to bother with using the hotel’s gym. Tell clients that if they are interested in this program, to inquire about it upon check-in because they don’t want a staff member scrambling early in the morning (it’s a new program, so it might not be top of mind). Guestrooms start at $279 per night, while suites start at $359 per night. 26 august 2013 24-27 NA SanFran.indd 26 For clients who prefer being close to the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf, recommend the recently renovated Argonaut Hotel, set in the Haslett Warehouse dating back to 1907. It features 252 rooms and suites playing on a nautical theme. The new design is based on the sleeping quarters of a steamer ship making its way to San Francisco—blue glass-blown lamps next to the bed, star-shaped pillows, and exposed brick and warehouse steel doors. For clients interested in exploring the area, this four-diamond Kimpton hotel is offering the Bike the Golden Gate Bridge package, which features accommodations for two, a full American breakfast for two at the Blue Mermaid Chowder House & Bar, and full-day bicycle rentals for two adults. We experienced the package ﬁrst-hand: ﬁrst dining at the restaurant and then gearing up for the 8-mile bike ride from Fort Mason across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito or Tiburon, where travelers can catch the ferry back. While we didn’t make it all the way across the bridge, we did bike around the area taking in the beautiful weather (everyone told us we came during one of the best months of the year, May, so take note when you are recommending when to visit) and the scenery by the water. Rates start at $375 per night (use code PBGG). sunday’s a drag Known as the “gay capital of the world,” with one of the largest per capita gay populations on the globe, the city embraces its history and heritage with landmarks such as a giant rainbow ﬂag ﬂying in the Harvey Milk Plaza in The Castro, considered to be one of the country’s ﬁrst gay neighborhoods, with gay bars, clubs and shops. So it seems ﬁtting that brunch in San Francisco should include a drag show. Set on the 21st story of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, The Starlight Room puts travelers in prime seats to take in 360-degree views of the city. While the space serves as a swanky nightclub and lounge by night, on Sundays it transforms for the Sunday’s a Drag brunch show. The perfect setting for a drag show, with its intimate booths and 1920s glamour (the hotel dates back to 1928 and Prohibition times), the girls put on quite a performance, especially with their renditions of “Barbie Girl” and Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” After your clients indulge at brunch, let them in on a little secret about this property—it features a Prohibition Room, which was once a speakeasy in the 1920s. While they can’t access the recommend.com 7/23/13 9:13 AM http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Dan Hotels, Israel
Tour Talk: Jacada Travel
Avalon Expression
Cruising the Rivers of Southeast Asia
Girls & Guys Getaways in Las Vegas
Kimpton Takes Center Stage in San Francisco
South Africa: Bicycles, Horses & Wonderful Experiences
A French Twosome with SLH
Bogota, Colombia
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta
Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto
Westin Grand Cayman
Grand Case Beach Club, St. Martin
Aruba Marriott Resort

Recommend August 2013