Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with hotel

Help me find a place to sleep.

defben — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:02:10 -0800

I'm currently backpacking through Europe and was given an invitation to Oktoberfest for this Friday. I'm really excited about this, but can't seem to find any places to stay that aren't booked or very expensive. I'd like to spend Friday and Saturday night there, giving me the opportunity to see the rest of Munich. What are my options in the area to find a place to sleep? Are there non-hostel options or perhaps one that isn't well known?

ANYTHING in Vegas...except a room at a casino hotel with a kitchen!

hal_c_on — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:28:44 -0800

VegasFilter: What hotel can I cook a dinner in? Yes, cooking a dinner in Vegas. No the basis for this isn't a radically different diet, a distaste for Vegas dining or anything like that. I'm going to Vegas soon, and I need a kitchen in my room (suite, villa, whatever the heck you want to call it) to cook a dinner. Thats all.

Here are the requirements that I have (which seem pretty basic, save the kitchen):

1. Its a casino hotel preferably ON the strip...if not, something close to the strip would be great as well.
2. Kitchen NOT a kitchenette or wet bar. I don't need all Viking appliances, but I dont want a microwave sitting atop a minifridge.
3. Multiple bedrooms connected to room is fine, but I DON'T want to pay something like $4,000/night for a fantasy suite at the Palms.

I simply can't find something that fulfills my requirements. I'm SURE there is an answer to this that doesn't require me to negotiate on the requirements above. I just can't seem to find it.

I have found TONS of places that fulfill 2 out of 3 requirements, but they don't have a kitchen or are out in BUFU and not connected to casinos.

So any help getting me closer to this room would be appreciated. And yes, I have called hotels directly and I still haven't found anything. I'm guessing there are a few people "in the know" about vegas on metafilter.

For a city where you can do anything...I'm kind of stumped, as are the reservations desks for the hotels I've called.

Thanks, mefites!

Recommend me a hotel in Houston

macdara — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:27:39 -0800

My SO and I are planning a very short trip to Houston next April, but obviously we'll need somewhere to stay for the night when we're there -- the question is, where? We're planning to travel from Dublin, Ireland to WrestleMania XXV at Reliant Stadium next April. We won't be staying long -- flying into the city on the Saturday and leaving on the Monday just after, flight availability provided -- so we only need somewhere cheap and cheerful for (most likely) two nights.

However, since neither of us drives, we really need somewhere that's either on or a short (safe) walk to the METRORail line so we can get to and from Reliant Park. We don't want to get lost in Texas; it's a big place.

So what options do we have, accommodation-wise? Any and all advice welcome! (But please, don't recommend anything that necessitates driving. I know Houston is a car city, but neither of us has a licence so it's out of the question.)

What's a good, cheap hotel in Melbourne, Australia?

No-sword — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:40:18 -0800

Looking for a cheap place to stay for a week in Melbourne, the cheapest that meets these criteria: (1) Hotel is 30 minutes or less from the CBD by public transport; (2) I can get a two-person room with its own shower; (3) I will not get stabbed or robbed there. I don't want to eat breakfast or dinner at the hotel. I don't need a gym or bar or anything like that in the hotel. Just a room with a lock, two beds (or one double bed), and a shower.

Not looking to couchsurf or anything like that; we do have friends in Melbourne but for a variety of reasons we would prefer to just pay some money for a room we can come and go from as we please, without worrying about inconveniencing someone or offending their hospitality.

Meta-answers on how to find such a hotel would be great too. I tried to Google this but found only spammy aggregator sites and super-expensive fancy hotels in the city center. I'm really trying to avoid Googling "hotel +[area]" for each individual area of Melbourne I can think of that's 30 minutes or less from the CBD...

Looking for a cheap hotel.

ArmyOfKittens — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:25:52 -0800

Looking for a cheap hotel near(ish) Charing Cross Hospital in London. I must book several days in a hotel near Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith, to stay in about six weeks' time. The cheaper it is, the more days I can book. I don't need any luxuries in the room, and while wi-fi internet would be nice it's hardly essential. It can be a few tube stops away.

I would be grateful for any suggestions or recommendations.

Hotel recommendations in Kingston

Cyrie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:23:00 -0800

Looking for recommendations for a reasonably priced hotel, B&B or other accomodation close to Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. I am starting a part-time masters degree at Queen's in the fall and I need to spend two days a month at the university taking classes between Sept-June. I need to find hotel or B&B accomodation that is relatively close to the university, has internet access, and hopefully not too expensive (I realize that may be a bit of a long shot, since it's Kingston, but I'll take under $130 a night).
I have done a few searches (expedia. hotwired) and there are a few hotels/motels that seem ok price-wise but either have no details or the reviews vary wildly (from 'it was clean and servicable' to 'this was disgusting and I ended up with snow blowing into my room'). So, I'm looking for some first-hand recommendations.
Can anyone help me out?

can hotels dispense aspirin complimentarily, like razors or toothpaste?

Lucinda — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:12:32 -0800

Is there a reason the hotel I stayed at offered toothpaste, toothbrushes and razors to guests who forgot them, but not aspirin? We were staying at a "four diamond" hotel in Toronto last night, and I woke up about 1am with a wicked headache.

I went down to the front desk to see if they had any aspirin/Tylenol/whatever, since I hadn't packed any, and was told they were sorry, but the gift shop had closed and the convenience store across the street was also closed and that I was out of luck.

So, all I could do was put a cold cloth on my head and wait it out for the next six hours, until the gift shop opened and I could buy a ($10) bottle of Excedrin.

All I could think during that time was that they offered complimentary toothbrushes, toothpaste and razors to guests who forgot theirs (and who could easily purchase them in the gift shop or from the convenience store across the street), but they couldn't give me two measly aspirin when I was desperate for them. (The hotel had no vending machines either.)

The only reasons I could figure were that (a) there is some law that prohibits the hotel from dispensing medicine to guests, or (b) they're money-grubbing scum who wanted to squeeze $10 out of me for a bottle of Excedrin.

Anyone have an idea?

Where can I find information on hotels recommended by airline crews?

ladynicole7 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:13:17 -0800

Where can I find information on hotels recommended by airline crews? We're looking for info on things like shuttles, breakfast options, location relative to terminal, and price. We are flying into and out of New Orleans and need a hotel for the night before our (very early AM) outgoing flight. Previous trips where we've done this, I've just looked at location, but I figure airline crews might have recommendations for which hotels are best for making early morning flights easy! We're looking for info on things like shuttles, breakfast options, location relative to terminal, and price.

Last minute romantic getaway within three of SE Michigan?

GenTso — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:58:37 -0800

First year anniversary emergency! Help me find a last-minute booking on a one or two-day getaway where the accommodations are three star or better, there are beautiful nature views / things to do in the great outdoors (hiking or even driving through great scenery might work), and within three or so hours of SE Michigan. Does such a place exist? (Tripadvisor was of little help.)

Legalfilter: I need advice if we should sue or not!

freddymetz — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:59:02 -0800

Legalfilter: I need advice if we should sue or not! We booked a hotel online, received our booking/reservation confirmation and arrived at the hotel in DC.
They then told us that we didnt have a reservation and they were sold out.

We then called the central office and the woman there could only give us a generic excuse to do with the credit card (but if we have received the confirmation, they have received the money..right?).
What i suspect, is that they made a mistake and dont feel they can admit it and now blame it on a generic credit card error.

They also said that they cancelled the booking an hour after we booked it but we received NO information of the cancellation what so ever.

We drove 300 miles to get to the hotel where we had a reserved room and they just left us standing there in the middle of the night.
I dont think this is acceptable behaviour from a top class hotel, so what do you guys think?

If you need any more information, feel free to ask!

Cheap overnight housing in Grand Marais August 7?

rawredmeat — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:21:13 -0800

Affordable place to crash in Grand Marais, MN? I'll be up there on August 7 in between trips to the Boundary Waters, and need a cheap place for me and my packs to stay the night... I'm going on 2 Boundary Waters trips starting next week, and have a night in between them that I need to stay overnight in or around Grand Marais. Looking for anywhere cheap ($75 or less). Any recommendations from past visitors?

miami beach hotel

Flood — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:15:02 -0800

Miami Beach Hotel Filter: Can you help me find the right Miami Beach hotel? Is my plan for a family vacation in Miami plausible? Details inside. Miami Beach Hotel Filter.

I am working in Miami in early August. My company has given me a $200 per night hotel allowance. I can spend it anyway I want, including bringing my family, getting two rooms, and letting them have a Miami vacation while I work.

I would like to get a hotel within walking distance of Miami Beach. The family will not have a car. Can I find two decent rooms for $200 per night within walking distance of Miami Beach?

Also, I am working near the intersections on Highway 821 and Highway 41. It is only about 12miles from the beach. But, I guess it is 12 miles across a city. Is staying on Miami Beach going to make for a terrible commute to my work location?

I greatly appreciate any help to either question.

Your thoughts on upcoming Amsterdam visit, pls?

filmgeek — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:18:58 -0800

Where to stay in Amsterdam? Fun times, easy and inexpensive (see inside)...help? I'm due to take about four days of vacation on my way back home in Amsterdam early in August. I'd like to have 'fun' (red light district to gawk, not to patronize, but everything else is fair game)...but I don't know about the hotel/location/fun.

First, I'm not sure in what part of the city I should aim to stay? I want to be able to be near fun (but not 'frat boy', drink till you puke fun), which leads to...

Second, I need something more secure than a hostel, but not a 4 star hotel (is it best to contact them directly? Or use an online booking site? I'm in the states - and know of Kayak, hotels.com, etc.) Any advice here? I'm looking for a 2-3 star hotel. Ideas? I'm mostly concerned about my laptop. A hotel with free wifi would be great

Any recommendations of things *not to be missed*. Yes, I know - anne frank, van gogh...but how about a specific shop (coffee or otherwise), or a place where the people are really friendly. I'm willing to pose as a canadian if necessary.) Assume I've read the prior questions on Amsterdam.

related meetup here.

Where to stay in Baltimore?

xbonesgt — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:51:58 -0800

BaltimoreFilter: A friend and I are driving from Boston to Baltimore next month and need hotel recommendations, among other things. Neither of us have been to Baltimore before so we aren't familiar with the neighborhoods to look for and the ones to avoid. We're looking for a hotel that is, in order of importance, safe; close to a Metro station; and cheap.

We're driving down on Friday morning for the Virgin Mobile music festival, which starts on Saturday, so barring any unexpected delays we'll have exactly one evening free for some gastronomic exploration. I'd rather not drive in a strange city at night and get lost, so if anyone can recommend a good local restaurant or bar near a Metro stop I'd be much obliged.

The festival is at Pimlico, which appears to be about a mile from the Rogers Avenue and West Cold Spring Metro stops. Would either be preferable to the other in terms of neighborhood safety or anything? Should I just drive there instead?

Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks a bunch for any information you can share.

What's the best place to view the Red Bull Air Race in London?

ajp — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:39:49 -0800

What's the best place to view the Red Bull Air Race in London? Buying tickets to the London Red Bull Air Race is apparently daft, since it gets totally crowded and the view isn't great. I'd like to see it clearly, from an uncrowded spot. It can be from a distance, as long as I can see most of the course.

One possibility I'm considering is renting a hotel room for one of the days. It would need a good view of the river. If anyone knows of such a hotel, that would be great.

Hotels in Indialantic or Indian Harbour Beach?

LightMayo — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:32:16 -0800

Any recommendations for hotels in the Melbourne Beach, Florida area? My husband and I are attending a wedding in the Indialantic and Indian Harbour Beach areas of Florida on August 2 and are looking for any good experiences that you might have had anywhere in this area. We are looking to spend between $90 and $150 per night.

I would also love it if you have any recommendations for restaurants and activities in the area that are a must. (We’ve done, and loved, the Kennedy Space Center.)

How do hotels keep their shower curtains mildew-free?

smackfu — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:21:26 -0800

How do hotels keep their shower curtains mildew-free? Is it part of the daily cleaning regimen? Do they replace them often? Do they buy better ones?

I ask because I have an awful time with mildew on my shower curtain, and I assumed it was mainly because I don't have a bathroom window for light and ventilation. But hotel rooms don't either, and yet the hotels seem to have the problem solved (presumably because a mildewed shower curtain would be a deal-killer for most hotel guests.)

Been to Jones Beach Hotel?

tonci — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:03:42 -0800

Any information about the Jones Beach Hotel in Wantagh NY? Managed to find a last minute reservation for the 4th of July weekend (for a New York City getaway) but there's practically no information on the internet in terms of reviews, pictures, and I'd just like to make sure I'm not taking my wife and her friends to a dump or sketchy place. Thanks!

Cheap hotel/hostel near Brussels airport

soulbarn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:30:08 -0800

My college-age niece (MEANING: broke, almost!) needs a cheap place to stay near the Brussels airport. She's going to be spending US dollars, so I know "cheap" is relative. She's an inexperienced traveler and a little timid. Any ideas?

Does such a Vegas hotel room exist?

chudmonkey — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:54:45 -0800

DoesThisEvenExistFilter: Can 4 couples get some kind of suite-type-thing with 4 bedrooms and a common area with a decent view of the Vegas strip for $800/night or less? My fiance and I are going to Vegas (Oct 20-24) with a group of friends to get married and just generally get our Vegas on. Since we've decided to stay at the same hotel for convenience's sake, the ultimate extension of that for us would be some big, fancy suite where we can all enjoy a common area but still have separate (private/semi-private) sleeping areas.

I have two friends who are very eager to stay at The Luxor, but my fiance would like a killer view, and those ideas don't seem congruous to me, so we're pretty open on what hotel to stay at. We'll be in town Monday-Friday. We don't need any kind of kitchen, but a bar area would be terrific. We're regular Vegas visitors, so we're very familiar with the hotels on the strip, just not rooms of this sort.

Simply put, I've never seen anything like this outside a movie, and my web searches aren't revealing much information that's complete or reliable. Thanks in advance for any insight or experience you can share.

What to do at night in a small hotel room in a small country town?

b33j — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:13:46 -0800

My husband and I are going on a road trip this weekend and have plenty of places and things to do during daylight hours. It's just the two of us (yay, no kids!) and we'll no doubt chat all day during the drives, hikes, sightseeing. We need something to do between checking in and going to sleep. I'd like an activity that's cheap, and involves the both of us. Nights are in prebooked hotels in very small country towns (that is, we don't have the option to keep driving until we need to sleep). We don't drink. One laptop between the two of us, with no guarantee of internet access. Apart from the obvious bedroom romps, what the hell else do we do during the night time? Normally at home, we (introverts) work (online), study(online), interact with the kids, he plays WOW (not installed on my laptop). Not big TV watchers.

We're Australian, married 17 years, 40+, travelling through Central NSW.

Seeking luxurious eco-lodge anywhere on the islands of Hawaii.

dbarefoot — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:23:25 -0800

Seeking luxurious eco-lodge anywhere on the islands of Hawaii. My wife and I are considering spending a week on a kind of working vacation (we're finishing a book) to Hawaii. We've only been once before, for a conference in Honolulu. We're experienced global travellers, and try to avoid masses of tourists and the associated tat and traps. On the other hand, we love the luxury. A couple of our favourite trips include a private game reserve in South Africa (staff to visitor ratio? 3:1) and a palace in Venice. We enjoy hiking, swimming, cycling and general outdoorsy stuff, but also enjoy a fancy tub to clean ourselves in at the end of the day.

So, I'm seeking a posh eco-lodge or small hotel somewhere in Hawaii. It must have reliable Internet access, and should feel like a tranquil retreat. Any suggestions?

need NYC recomendations

jmugrapler — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:51:36 -0800

Looking for a great hotel/restaurant Combo for June in NYC... planning to propose, so much... I am planning on proposing to my long term girlfriend and subsequently taking an overnight trip up from Philly to New York. I am going to propose here in Philly before leaving, so suggestions for question popping are not what i am looking for. Though, a really good one could sway me. My fear, and rationalle is that after 6.5 years, she knows its coming, and the trip for no reason would surely give me away so I want to do it before.

I need recomendations for a cool, unique hotel, and a really great restaurant. For the hotel I am hoping to stay in the $300 range, and probably about the same for the restaurant. So far I have been leaning towards the W, which is right in my range and looks fun. Anyone have any experience either way? Is the midtown location a major drawback?

I dont really have an agenda other than go up there and have a fun night. Other diversions and breakfast, lunch drink places are also welcome. Not really fans of the club scene, but we both really like wine and love Belgian beer.

For a restaurant, the GF is up for anything so adventurous is definately a plus. I am not very framiliar with new york restaurants for comparison, but in Philly she really likes Buddakan, Cuba Libre, Lacroix, and Friday Saturday Sunday.

Good: Sea Food, sushi, French, Steak
Bad: Chains, Touristy, Bland

Please help!

Where the Gypsy Angels Go

Miko — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:39:42 -0800

New Jersey-Filter: Two questions. First, can you recommend any great B&Bs in Monmouth County? Second, if you had the aim of introducing two close friends to summer in the Garden State, with the ulterior motive of disabusing them of anti-Jersey stereotypes, where would you take them and what would you do?

What do the players of pro sports teams do when on the road?

Chuck Cheeze — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:34:18 -0800

What do the players of pro sports teams do when on the road? I'm talking baseball, but any type of sports would do. I was thinking, as an A's fan, when the A's are in, say, Chicago, for 3-4 days, what can or can't the players do? I'm sure they have curfews, shuttles from the hotel to the field and back for those going early (and a team bus otherwise).

What if they have a day off while there? What do they do all day? Can they leave the hotel? Bars? Restaurants? I know a lot of guys have "women on the side", shall we say...does that stuff go down in the hotel?

I'd guess they all bring an Xbox and alot of them sit in their rooms playing that alot- probably surfing the web, the usual hotel stuff- but what kinds of freedoms and restrictions are there?