Category: California
Sip & Splurge at XYZ bar, W San Francisco
By Paul Johnson on Jan 20, 2006 in Accommodation, Bars, California, Going Out, Hotels, North America, Regions, USA
Drop by at W San Francisco any Wednesday evening in February and sip for free from 6-7pm. Move into the XYZ bar, open all night, for select high-end wines by the glass. Enjoy grooving to the music of a live DJ as you savor any of the 10-15 wines (paired with canapes) from such producers 
Super Spas 2006
By Paul Johnson on Jan 19, 2006 in Accommodation, Arizona, Asia, California, Cruises & Boat Travel, Europe, Ireland, Massachusetts, New York, Regions, Resorts, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel, Thailand, United Kingdom, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Western Europe, Worldwide
Interested in a seaweed wrap or a caviar facial? Forbes has run an article on the special spas for 2006. Getting a much-deserved mention are: Monart Luxury Destination Spa, Enniscorthy, Ireland Red Mountain Spa, St. George, UT Chiva Som, Hua Hin, Thailand Canyon Ranch, Tucson, AZ and Lenox, MA Cornelia Day Resort, New York 
2006 Top 10 Romantic Inns
By Paul Johnson on Jan 19, 2006 in Accommodation, Arizona, Bed & Breakfasts, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North America, Pennsylvania, Regions, USA
You can tell Valentines is around the corner. iLoveInns has joined the ‘top ten bandwaggon’ and released its own ‘Top Ten Most Romantic Bed & Breakfasts’. Making the US-centric list, in no particular order, are: Inn at Bowman’s Hill, New Hope, PA Sea Crest by the Sea, Spring Lake, NJ Santa Ynez Inn, Santa 
Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria brand
By Paul Johnson on Jan 17, 2006 in Accommodation, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Hotels, New York, North America, Regions, Resorts, USA, Worldwide
Hilton Hotels, which has owned the Waldorf since 1949, is expected to announce today that it will launch a chain of luxury hotels under the Waldorf-Astoria brand. The new brand will include business hotels and resorts worldwide and match or exceed the chain’s current luxury leaders, Hiltons and Conrads, for its level of amenities. Starting 
Hilton San Francisco Financial District hotel
By Paul Johnson on Jan 14, 2006 in Accommodation, Business Travel, California, Hotels, North America, Regions, Speciality Travel, USA
The 549-room Hilton San Francisco Financial District hotel reopened Thursday after closing in June for a $40 million renovation, becoming the city’s third Hilton. The hotel was formerly a business-oriented Holiday Inn Select. The renovations included an entryway water sculpture and rooms with work desks and ergonomic chairs, and wired and wireless high-speed Internet access. 
Oprah Winfrey private jet incident
By Paul Johnson on Jan 12, 2006 in Air Travel, California, Celebrities, North America, Regions, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, USA
A bird collided with Oprah Winfrey’s GulfStream private jet this week. The plane’s windshield cracked, and the jet was forced to return to the airport in Santa Barbara, California to make an emergency landing. The jet will stay put at the airport until its windshield can be fixed. Oprah and her boyfriend, Stedman Graham, were 
Mondrian Hotel Los Angeles
By Paul Johnson on Jan 09, 2006 in Accommodation, California, Celebrities, Hotels, North America, Regions, Travel Miscellany, USA
The ultra-modern Mondrian is known for its discreet location and movie-industry guests, including Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio. Enjoy a drink and city views at the exclusive Skybar, located just off the sundeck – probably the most “Hollywood” way to spend an evening. 
