#soNCsavvy goes on #Staycation ! Explore the romantic side of #Raleigh @RaleighMarriott #DTRMarriott @FallonsFlowers #DTR~ #Travel Recap

September 7, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

Dieciséis Anos ?? Wow where did these 16 years go so fast, I asked my hubby. It was our anniversary and since we recently relocated to Raleigh we asked around about where could we do a memorable romantic overnight staycation. We kept getting the same answer..The Raleigh Marriott City Center http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/rdumc-raleigh-marriott-city-center/

In my former life as a healthcare consultant I had spent endless nights in Marriott properties, so I definitely heeded that advice and headed downtown for a nights stay. Being a new transplant to Raleigh I was always surprised as how vibrant the city center here is. People bound about. Popular Restaurants and trendy bars are everywhere. Rye, one of the hottest restaurants in the entire region just happens to be inside the Marriott. Downtown Raleigh also has various venues for plays and concerts and The Marriott City Center literally is in the center of it all. Convientely located on Fayettville St and connected to the Raleigh Convention Center, this property is ground zero for a downtown base for fun or romance. This is a full service property with an indoor pool and 15,000 sq feet of event space. They even have a concierge level of rooms with exclusive access to their concierge lounge and amenities. With that in mind, we headed downtown.

Check in was fast and efficient. The modern Lobby was stylish and bright. We found our suite to be luxurious but not garish. Marble bathroom and plush bedding was top notch. Our room had a great view of the Raleigh Skyline which came to life in the form of twinkling lights as the sun was setting.

Since it was our anniversary, also waiting in the room was a beautiful bright bouquet of flowers from the famous Fallons Flowers http://www.fallonsflowers.com/ They have been Raleigh’s premier florist for over 8 decades. Looking at these beautiful flowers I now know why. The arrangement was gorgeous! Fallon’s will be my Raleigh florist of choice going forward.

We had reserved their wonderful “romance package” room. They provided a bottle of Prosecco with a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. They also had 2 pouches of actual fresh red rose petals! We scattered them on the bed and spelled out how many years of marriage we were celebrating. What a great start. I took a quick swim in their rooftop pool and got dressed for a night out on the town. Before heading out we stopped by the bar at Rye for cocktail. Amazing bar atmosphere with attentive bartenders who explain how they make their cocktails out of fresh fruits and mixes.

The next morning we awoke with room service. A full breakfast was in order. They brought it up on time and as ordered. We both hated to say goodbye, but alas it was back to the real world. Until next time Marriott, until next time.

#Yoga Me Impressed, #Namaste Right Here @Kimpton @KimptoninDC #MonacoBaltimore @PublicBikes~ #soDMVsavvy #Travel

August 24, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

One of my New Year resolutions was to incorporate fitness in my life and embark upon a more healthy lifestyle. I decided to practice yoga because it was something that I could consistently do. It embraces all levels of fitness, ages and can be done anywhere at anytime. Through yoga workouts and breathing exercises one can maintain physical fitness and serenity.

Serenity… that is something that’s often missing in travel but does not have to be. Being in transit does not mean one can not stay in shape and have a peaceful mind. Many hotels are starting to cater to the healthy lifestyle of travelers and are providing healthier lifestyle accomodations.

A few months ago, I stayed at a Kimpton Hotel ~ Hotel Monaco ~ because I needed to be close to Royal Farms Arena to photograph the sneak peek of Cirque du Soleil’s return to Baltimore ( http://atomic-temporary-51558291.wpcomstaging.com/2015/07/09/photographs-of-cirque-in-baltimore-sneak-peek-varekaicirquedusoleilmdsciencecenter-phillipsseafood/). Although it was last minute reservation and a short one night stay, I thought I would share with my fellow yogis how Kimpton Hotels has a health-focused approach to hospitality. When you get to your room, call the front desk and ask them to send up a tote bag. They will bring a complimentary bundle of mats, straps, bands and props, which you may use for the duration of your stay. The tote provides all the necessities for yoga, meditation and Pilates. I liked having the option to start the morning with a sun salutation ,carry the mat in the cute tote bag to practice outside ( which I did ) or end every night with child’s pose. Although yoga was not something my travel companion enjoys, Kimpton Hotels also features free on-demand fitness programs on your in-room TV, meaning you can squeeze in a workout while still in pajamas!

We got a chance to do some quick local exploring via bikes courtesy to all hotel guests (no time for the downtown Baltimore attractions this visit, although this hotel is conveniently located near the Inner Harbor and more ). We rode around on one of Kimpton Hotels state-of-the-art bikes at every location, allowing for some major calorie-torching while sightseeing. Even better, this hotel is healthy for the environment. By implementing ‘green’ initiatives like non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products, complimentary parking for hybrid vehicles, and an on-site water filtration system that eradicates the need for bottled water, Kimpton Hotels take health and wellness to a global level.

So whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, you can rest assured that you can keep your health a top priority by staying at KIMPTON Hotels.

Enjoy my yogi around town/#getLovelyfit @getLovelyfit pictures using Kimpton Hotels yoga mat and @PublicBikes! Namaste!

‘Lovely’ / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
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Hashtag #SobeSavvy #soNCsavvy #soDMVsavvy

#OutandAboutAva Goes on an #Easter2015 @Loews_Hotels #LoewsMiami Daycation~Recap by #SobeSavvy !

April 9, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Easter in Miami usually involves the easter bunny, candy and a easter egghunt on the beach ! Loews Miami Beach has all 3 of those prerequisites covered. Some people know Loews as a large convention size hotel. As big as this luxury hotel appears there is one place where intimacy, service and exclusivity merge.That place is an exclusive pool area they call “soak”.

https://www.loewshotels.com/miami-beach/services-amenities/soak

Think sumptuous daybeds, stellar personal service and drink surprises {gratis} served throughout the day in this VIP area. Guests of Soak get a welcome basket of freshly cut fruit and bottled smoothies. Plush towels and face misters. Pampering and peace rule the day at Soak. Cabanas and private butler/waiter service are at your disposal. Have drinks, lunch or both !! I loved it, my hubby loved it and most importantly my little one had a blast. Soak it up at Soak.

#SobeSavvy in #Bimini #Bahamas ! My #BiminiBliss #Daycation #Travel Recap ~ @RWBimini @abcrentalsbimini @PortEverglades Inaugural #Cruise

October 19, 2014SobeSavvy 1 Comment

On Thursday, October 14, 2014, my family and I took one of the inaugural cruises on the Bimini Superfast Ship from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. http://rwbimini.com/bimini-superfast

They only had service from Miami prior to adding a Port Everglades cruise on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. We parked the car at the garage adjacent to terminal 21 where it was docked. Check in was efficient and fast. Ship was new, clean and modern. Left on time at 9am. After breakfast and enjoying some dance music entertainment on the upper deck, we arrived at Bimini after a 2.5 hour voyage. We caught the beach club tram. Passengers have the option of staying at the beach or casino all day, but we opted to see the island instead. Since golf carts are the preferred mode of island transportation here, we planned to take one inorder to explore. There are various companies/operators that had carts lined up at the beach club. Most of these carts looked alike.. except one. It was a Rolls Royce golf cart. Imagine that. A Rolls ! It was owned by a company named ABC Cart Rentals. http://instagram.com/abcrentalsbimini or https://www.facebook.com/abcrentals.bimini. This rental was in great condition and fun to drive. After a quick tutorial on the cart, we were off to see Bimini.

We were hungry and a friend of mine in Miami advised me that her aunt owned the famous Edith’s Pizza. Off we went up Kings Highway. Edith’s Pizza is not made like the average pizza. She uses Bimini Bread as the dough. We had her famous Lobster Pizza. It was out of this world good. Set on the water, my daughter went conch shell hunting while we waited for our order. Of course we had a Kalik Beer to accompany it. Perfect lunch. Afterwards we took the Rolls Royce into Alice Town. We checked out Radio Beach and wandered around the shops in the area. We headed back to the Resorts World Resort for some fun in the pool. It was too windy for the ocean but we enjoyed a snow cone at the beach bar. Afterwards, It was time to turn over our keys to the Rolls and head back to the ship.

All in all, a wonderful day trip to the Bahamas. Bimini is a slice of paradise . Make sure you get yourself a piece.

#SobeSavvy goes on a “24 hr Respite” @SB_Hotel #SouthBeachHotel @ThinkHotelGrp #ThinkSouthBeach #SBH

September 21, 2014SobeSavvy Leave a comment

South beach hotel choices run the gamut. Uber luxury chain hotels to small mom and pop motels. SobeSavvy was invited to spend the night at the SBH hotel located in the rapidly upcoming area of Collins Park.http://www.southbeachhotel.com

It is a boutique hotel that caters to those who value discretion over flash. The lobby is small{ and to scale for the hotel size} and has whimsical touches. Rooms are done tastefully in minimalist style. They also take the mini bar to a new level. Top Shelf choices abound and you also have a mini fridge with other offerings available. It also has the latest technology to keep you connected for work or play. SBH has free hi speed WiFi access and IHOME radio to connect your ipod or smartphone for your musical pleasure. Flat screen HD TV guarantees a sharp picture with DirectTV. The bathroom has coveted GuyAndGirl parabeen free bath and shower products. Due to historical structure designation SBH has guests utilize the rooftop pool on their sister property next door, the Boulan Hotel. The pool area is amazingly serene and styled in a balinese-esque style. Guests also have complimentary real American style breakfast at Orange Blossom Restaurant next to the Boulan.http://orangeblossommiami.com/

Those who seek a true beach holiday will not be disappointed. SBH is only one block west from the sand and surf. Two beach chairs are complimentary for each day of a guest stay. They also have sunscreen and lip balm in each room for purchase.

Check out SBH for your next vacation or staycation. Tell em Sobesavvy.com sent ya !

What’s #BetterThanSex ?! #SobeSavvy Travels to #KeyWest to find out! @BetterThanSexKW #Dessert #Restaurant

September 8, 2014SobeSavvy Leave a comment

The place is called “Better Than Sex”.http://www.betterthansexkeywest.com/ With a name like that the bar has been set pretty high! It is a A dessert restaurant.That is correct. A restaurant where ALL THEY SERVE IS DESSERT! My kind of place. We entered through a candle lit doorway into a new kind of experience. Erotica adorns the ruby walls. The main room is darkened. The mood they are setting is obvious. They have two main dining areas; the red room and the gold room. We were seated at a table with a sheer curtain that can be drawn for some privacy. The menus are on tablet computers. Guests can pick drinks which are rimmed with all sorts of goodness like chocolate or caramel. Wines, coffee or beer can be rimmed with whatever you choose. You can come up with your own unique concoction. We tried the ” Kiss Me Carolyn” which is Ayala Champagne in a Caramel Brulee’d Rimmed Wine Glass. It was a perfect pairing. The champagne and caramel truly complimented each other. Everyone has to come up with their own methodology in how to drink/taste their beverage. I went with 2 sips and one lick. You come up with your own ! We also had the “Tia Ticker”, which is Piper Rose Champagne in a White Chocolate Rimmed Wine Glass .

Next up were the dessert choices…Started with the “Chocolate Grilled Cheese”…not exactly a “normal” combination of foods but it was exquisitely deliciously and uber sinful. Next up was their namesake dessert. It is their version of chocolate bread pudding with a side of white chocolate mousse. Awesome chocolate goodness that melted in my mouth. Was this dish better than sex? Only YOU can decide that. Also the “Missionary Crisp ” is not to be missed. If you like apple cobbler you will LOVE this variation.

Between the decor, vibe and the incredible drinks and desserts I left there feeling good and in the mood for _ _ _.See if you feel the same. Next time you are in Key West make sure you have something that just might be Better Than Sex. Tell em Sobesavvy.com sent ya.