For a carless week in Richmond, Virginia, I wanted a hotel centrally located to most of what I planned to see that I could reach by walking. I found it in the 110-year-old The Commonwealth, in the heart of downtown. I found it to be friendly, truly convenient, and quite comfortable. What I didn’t expect to find, however, was a series of supernatural occurrences that exceeded the parameters of normal hotel room idiosyncrasies and kept my stay here an ongoing guessing game of what would happen next. Read about it >
Tag Archives: hotel
A Temporary Life of Luxury in Porto
If you’re going to splurge on a place to stay in Porto, Portugal, then you’d be wise to choose Infante Sagres. For more than 70 years, this elegant fixture in the city’s accommodations has been providing five-star service to everyone from Bob Dylan to the queen of the Netherlands, and now me. Combining polished elegance, Old World attention to detail and contemporary comforts, outstanding service, and an enviable location, Infante Sagres practically guarantees you a highly memorable stay. Read about it >
Share my story:
Staying at the Gates of Namibia’s Best National Park
I was traveling from one desert camp in Namibia to the next. From the fantastic Doro Nawas Camp in Damaraland, I drove north, for about 200 miles, through surrealistic landscapes. With fresh memories of a flawless stay at Doro Nawas, I was setting up my next destination, Etosha Safari Lodge, for some very high expectations. Within striking distance of Etosha National Park, the lodge met every single one of them. And when the very first creature to greet me was a curious giraffe, it did, indeed, surpass them. Read about it >
Share my story:
BA in BA: Boutique Accommodations in Buenos Aires
An accommodation in the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina, that offers heart-stopping ham omelets, free tango lessons, and the refinement of the Old World transported to the New World — that’s what Rooney’s Boutique Hotel promises you. All of that means you’ll be staying at one of the most atmospheric hotels in this rich and complex city. Read more about it >
Share my story:
Hurry to Many Glacier Hotel Before It’s Just “Hotel”
Although I’ve visited many national parks over the years, I had never stayed at one of their famed lodges overnight. So, when I headed to parks in Montana and Wyoming, the time seemed ripe. My first one was tucked deep inside Glacier National Park, way up in Montana at the Canadian border. With basic and rustic, but comfortable, accommodations, Many Glacier Hotel rightly prides itself on its excellent restaurant, century-old structure, and one of the most dramatic settings in the Rocky Mountains. But head there quickly: Global climate change is permanently erasing the park’s famed glaciers at an alarming rate. Read more about it >
Share my story:
Staying at a Contemporary Hotel in an Old German Colonial Town in Namibia
I had come to the coast of southwestern Namibia with one purpose in mind: to visit Kolmanskop, one of the world’s best ghost towns, something I had been yearning to see for a couple of decades. Not to my surprise, it immediately became one of the highlights of my two weeks in this sparsely populated and wonderfully friendly country. And, after spending a few hours roaming around this remnant of a German colonial diamond-mining town, occasionally being stung by the desert sand in this windy location, I was equally happy to head to the hotel that was serving as my accommodations for a couple of nights, Lüderitz Nest Hotel, fewer than 10 miles down the road in the small city of Lüderitz. With its waterside location, wonderful service, and terrific menu in its restaurant, it’s the ideal place to stay. Read more about it >
Share my story:
The Executive Hotel: Not Just for CEOs
With its abundance of tree-lined streets, inviting parks and plazas, and very close proximity to nearly two dozen wineries — and with Mt. Aconcagua just three hours away through stunning scenery — the city of Mendoza is an ideal base to explore this region of Argentina. And when you’re staying in this laid-back locale, the Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel rises to the top of the list of choices for your accommodations, and with very good reasons. Read more >
Share my story:
Modern Comforts and Historic Flair at Hotel at Old Town in Wichita, Kansas
Old Town in Wichita, Kansas, attracted me right from the start. I explored this revitalized neighborhood by walking along the brick streets, among the brick and native-limestone warehouses from the mid-1800s that have been converted into businesses, restaurants, loft residences, and shops. As its appeal grew, I couldn’t have been more pleased to be staying in the heart of it, at Hotel at Old Town, itself a transformation from the city’s largest warehouse to one of Wichita’s top accommodations. Read more about it >
Share my story:
Indulge at One of the World’s Most Famous Hotels, The Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe
Originally conceived as accommodations for workers constructing a railway through Africa, The Victoria Falls Hotel today could never be imagined for such a humble beginning. Indeed, this five-star, luxurious hotel now hosts monarchs, presidents, and the über-wealthy, boasting everything you would expect from one of The Leading Hotels of the World: flawless service, beautiful grounds, great views, and superb dining, all mixed with a remarkable history and fine architecture. Read more >
Share my story:
Meals That Match the Mood in Glacier National Park
I was tucked about six miles inside Montana’s spectacular Glacier National Park, not far from the Canadian border, staying in a rustic room in Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel in the park. Sprawling along the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake, the hotel has been seducing travelers here since 1915, lured by its Alpine style, staggering views of some of the most pristine nature in the United States, nearness to wildlife, and myriad outdoor activities. If all that weren’t enough to entice you here, the hotel boasts an outstanding restaurant that perfectly caps your day spent in the wilderness. Read about the Ptarmigan Dining Room >
Stephen Travels 