Hotels We’ve Stayed In :-)

These are some of the fabulous Hotels we were lucky enough spend time in.

**If you would like to skip to any particular area please click on the links below.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Amstel Hotel – April 8-12, 2013

Andasibe, Madagascar – Vakona Forest Lodge – June 15th – 16th, 2016

Anguilla, Caribbean – Belmond Cap Juluca – April 23, 2017

Asheville, North Carolina – Omni Grove Park Inn – October 23, 2020 

Athens, Greece– Hotel Grand Bretagne – August 10th – 13th, 2005,
                                                                                      November 3, 2011,
                                                                                      July 12, 2018

Atlanta, GA – Waldorf Astoria – November 2, 2019 – November 5, 2019 

Austin, Texas – Four Seasons – May 17, 2021 – May 18, 2021

Indonesia –St. Regis – April 11, 2025 – April 12, 2025

Baltimore, Maryland – Four Seasons – October 14, 2020 – October 15, 2020

Bangkok, Thailand – Mandarin Oriental – March 30th & 31st, 2014

Bermuda – The Loren at Pink Beach – November 30, 2025 – December 3, 2025

Bora Bora, French Polynesia – Four Seasons – January 21, 2015 & March 4 & 5th, 2025 

Boston, MA – XV Beacon – October 11, 2019 

Big Island, Hawaii – Hilton Hotel – February 28 – March 2, 2017

Cape Town, South Africa – 12 Apostles –April 1st & 2nd, 2009 & May 21, 2025 – May 22, 2025

Charleston, South Carolina – Belmond Charleston Place – October 26, 2020

Charlottesville, Virginia – Albermarle Estate at Trump Winery – October 15, 2020 

Chicago, IL – Peninsula Hotel – August 30, 2017 – September 1, 2017
                            Trump Hotel – March 21, 2019 – March 23, 2019

Cape Neddick, Maine – Cliff House – August 2, 2020 – August 5, 2020

Cincinnati, Ohio – Netherland Plaza Hotel – April 28, 2019 

Cong, County Mayo, Ireland – Ashford Castle – August 2023

Dallas, Texas – The Joule – May 15, 2021 – May 17, 2021

D.C. – District of Columbia – Trump International Hotel– June 8, 2021

Des Moines, Iowa – Embassy Suites – August 23rd – 24th, 2017

Doonbeg, Ireland – Trump International Doonbeg – August 2023

Dubai, UAE – Raffles – November 22, 2011
                            Medinat Jumeirah – September 2, 2019 – September 4, 2019
                            Burj Khalifa-Armani-September 4, 2019-September 6, 2019  
                            Burj Al Arab – September 7, 2019

Eze, France– La Chevre D’Or – May 27, 2019 – May 29, 2019

Florence, Italy– Four Seasons – February 2011

Grand Anse Mahe, Seychelles – Hilton Northolme – June 18th – 22nd, 2016

Grand Rapids, Michigan – Amway Grand Rapids Hotel – April 26, 2019

Honolulu, Hawaii – Ritz Carlton Residences – June 14, 2022 – June 18, 2022

Hot Springs, Virginia – Omni Homestead – October 17, 2020 – Oct 19, 2020 

Huntington, NY – Oheka Castle – September 2018 

Jerusalem, Israel – Waldorf Astoria – July 15, 2018

Johannesburg, South Africa – Intercontinental – September 20, 2019 

Kahuku, Hawaii – Turtle Bay Resort – June 18, 2022 – June 20, 2022

Ko ‘Olina – Hawaii – Disney Aulani – September 13, 2018 – Sept. 20, 2018
September  14th – 21st, 2013
September 7th – 14th, 2014                                                                                                    September 23rd – October 1st, 2016                                                                                    February 23rd – February 28th, 2017

Kruger National Park/South Africa – April 2009

Limerick, Ireland – Adare Manor – August 2023 

Livingstone, Zambia – Royal Chundu – June 7th – 13th, 2016

Maui, Hawaii – Westin Hotel – March 3rd – 7th, 2017

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Hilton Hotel – August 28, 2017

Montauk, New York – Gurney’s Star Island – October 9, 2020 – Oct 10, 2020

Monte Carlo, Monaco – Hotel De Paris – May 23, 2019 – May 27, 2019

Nairobi, Kenya – Giraffe Manor – September 8, 2019 
                                    Angama Mara – September 9, 2019 – September 13, 2019  
                                    Salas Camp – September 13, 2019 – September 16, 2019   

Nashville, Tennessee – Hermitage Hotel – May 24, 2017 – May 25, 2017

New Orleans, LA – Ritz Carlton – October 28, 2019 – October 31, 2019 

Newport, RI – Castle Hill – October 9, 2019 
                              The Chanler @ Cliff Walk – October 10, 2019

Orlando, Florida – Ritz Carlton – August 25, 2022 – August 27, 2022

Oceania Cruises Suites – Owners Suite 1 & 2, Oceania Suite, Vista & Penthouse Suite

Palm Beach, Florida – The Breakers – September 22, 2013, October 25, 2015
                                               Mar-A-Lago – Members since 2021 

Papeete, French Polynesia – January 24, 2015

Park City, Utah – St. Regis – September 27, 2016 – September 28, 2016

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –  Ritz Carlton – August 8, 2019 – Aug. 10, 2019

Rome, Italy – Westin Excelsior Hotel – February 7th – 20th, 2011
                             Ritz Carlton -August 18th – 21st, 2012
                             Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri – August 23, 2018
                             Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri – June 2, 2019 – June 4, 2019

San Diego, Califonia – The US Grant – September 20, 2022 – September 23, 2022

Sedona, AZ – Enchantment Hotel – September 27- 29, 2010

St. George, Utah – The Inn at Entrada – August 27, 2013 – August 29, 2013

Venice, Italy – Luna Baglioni & 2nd time – February 3rd – 5th, 2011 & October 14, 2022

Waikiki, Hawaii – Trump International Hotel – June 20, 2022

Walland, Tennessee – Blackberry Mountain – Oct. 21, 2020 – Oct. 23, 2020

White Sulphur Springs, Virginia – The Greenbrier – Oct. 18, 2020 

Zakynthos, Greece –Le Sante Blu – July 7, 2018 – July 11, 2018

Zambia, Africa – Royal Chundu – September 17, 2019 – September 20, 2019 

 

Dubai, UAE – Day 2 – Tour of the city

November 22, 2011

Today was our last day in Dubai and our last day on the ship.  We disembarked from the ship and checked into our hotel Raffles Dubai which we booked for half the day.  We only needed the room to freshen up before flying home for 12 hours.  Unfortunately, it was hazy out so some of my pictures aren’t clear.

We jumped into a cab and decided to see as much of the city as we possibly could.  The first place we visited was the fabulous Burj Khalifa.  It is the tallest building in the world with the fastest elevator.  We went up to the 122nd floor which was the lounge called Atmosphere.  We had breathtaking views of the city.  We saw the construction of the Palm Islands and The World.  This lounge was expensive for lunch, but everything in Dubai is pricey. We then decided to go to the Dubai Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world

In the mall, they have an indoor ski resort called Ski Dubai where John and I did a few runs.  It wasn’t big, but it was the only indoor ski resort we’ve ever seen. After doing a little bit of shopping, we went back to our hotel so that we can get ready for dinner in the Burj Al Arab (Sail Hotel).  The only way you can get into that hotel is if you are staying there or if you have reservations for the restaurant.

The Burj Al Arab is a beautiful hotel with vibrant colors. We knew these two women who were staying there, so we got a sneak peek into their suite and boy was it gorgeous.  Each suite has two floors with a beautiful staircase.  After getting a tour of the room, we went to dinner at Al Mahara.  The restaurant is basically a giant fish tank it, and anywhere you sit you have a great view of it.

From the menu to the stemware and the silverware everything was top notch.  The food was delicious as well.  After a very expensive dinner, we got a ride back to our hotel so that we can finish packing and get ready to go home.  After a great 18 day cruise, it will be tough to go back home to reality.

Burj Khalifa – Picture credit Trip advisor
Burj Al Arab – Picture credit Google
A hazy picture of Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa
Maria & John at Atmosphere Lounge on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa

A hazy picture of the Burj Al Arab from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa
A view of Dubai
Maria & John
A couple of the local in their traditional clothing
Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai
The beautiful ceiling of Burj Al Arab
The pretty balconies in the Burj Al Arab
The staircase in one of the suites in the Burj Al Arab
Bedroom in Burj Al Arab Suite
Bathroom in the Burj Al Arab Suite
Maria & John at Al Mahara Restaurant entrance
Al Mahara Restaurant fish tank
Al Mahara Restaurant stemware

Maria & John in Al Mahara Restaurant
Maria & John – Burj Al Arab house car is a beautiful Roll Royce