The Scene: What I enjoyed the most about the Viceroy Santa Monica was its laid back atmosphere. Although it’s a luxury property, the staff is stylish, friendly, poised but not pretentious. The hotel welcomes guests with a glass of champagne (or in my case bottled water) upon arrival, which immediately puts you in vacation mode. The property is located right on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, just a short walk from the beach, the Santa Monica Pier, and Santa Monica Place, an outdoor shopping area with a great selection of luxury brands and restaurants.

The Rooms:  We stayed at the Empire Suite which had a beautiful ocean view. The suites at Viceroy Santa Monica have a separate living room which is perfect for entertaining or simply relaxing.  The bed was nice and cozy and the bathroom is also spacious, which is great when you’re sharing the space with friends!

The Cabanas:  Yes, this post has a section about the cabanas because it was my favorite amenity of the Viceroy Santa Monica! The pool area is beautifully decorated with bright white cabanas which line the two plunge pools at the hotel patio. It was so relaxing to work our way from breakfast to one of the cabanas and hang out by the pool. I also enjoyed the wifi by the pool area, I was able to get work done with a view! During the evening, we treated ourselves to happy hour where we sipped cocktails by the pool with live music. We wanted to see more of Santa Monica, but we were too comfy in our domain!

The Food: We had the opportunity to have breakfast and dinner at Cast, the restaurant at the Viceroy Santa Monica. For breakfast, executive chef Larry Monaco has added a true California vibe to this menu with a expansive selection of healthy items: quinoa and eggs, house-made granola, and steel cut oats. I went with the Mediterranean breakfast with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt and banana nut bread made in house. Delicious and guilt free.  Don’t worry, you can also indulge in omelets and french toast with dulce de leche! The California vibes area also translated into the dinner menu:  menu is simple with many American classics, but made with great attention to detail. Our faves were the deviled eggs, baby beet salad, and Larry’s tagliatelle with bolognese (recipe adapted from his grandma). We also noticed that the restaurant seemed to be a hot spot for locals as we noticed there were plenty of non-hotel guests indulging at both breakfast and dinner.

The Verdict: The Viceroy Santa Monica makes for a luxurious escape when you find yourself in Southern California. The property and the staff will spoil you with their attentiveness and beautiful amenities. As a matter of fact, my friend K is already making plans for her return trip to the hotel. This property brings together luxury, design, and great service, synonymous with the Viceroy brand.

Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California. Hotel Website

Disclaimer: I was hosted by Viceroy Santa Monica but as always, opinions are my own. 

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The Location:  Acqualina Resort is in the northern part of the Miami Metropolitan Area.  The vibe is very laid back as Collins Avenue is lined with luxury residential high-rises.  If you love to shop, there are plenty of options with Bal Harbour Shops and Aventura Mall a short drive away.  If you want a change of scenery, it will take you 30 minutes to get to South Beach or Brickell.

The Rooms:  I stayed at a one-bedroom suite with an amazing ocean view.  Even if you’re not a morning person like me, you MUST set your alarm and take in the glorious sunrise view from the property.  The suites are spacious and come with a fully equipped kitchen, living room, office, bedroom, and one and a half bathroom.  The decor is modern and minimal with neutral tones which place you in vacation mode right away.

The Property:  Upon entering the property, you are engulfed in luxury.  I was welcomed with champagne upon arrival, and a staff member gave me a personal tour of the property and accompanied me to my suite.  The property has three pools for hotel guests, a private pool at  ESPA Spa.  I didn’t get the chance to swim at the pool but they all looked very enticing.  I did have the chance to go to the beach in the late afternoon and that was the one part I was a bit disappointed by.  Although the pool staff set us up with chairs and towels, the beach area was dirty with garbage lining the beautiful shoreline.  I did address it with the management and they explained that the city was responsible for the upkeep of the beach and they were going to bring it to their attention.

The Food:  The breakfast at the Acqualina Resort is a must.  I indulged in their vast selection of fruit, breads, and cheeses. There is also an extensive selection of hot choices and an omelet bar.  I also dined one evening at the AQ by Acqualina.  The menu is not as extensive as the flagship restaurant Il Mulino New York, but it holds its own with simple yet delicious dishes such as the kale salad and steamed salmon with purple potatoes.

The Spa:  I had a massage done at ESPA, the spa on property.  I had a tour of the facility by one of the friendly staff members who showed me the private pool and steam rooms which spa guests have exclusive access to when they purchase a treatment.  The massage was epic.  I really did not want it to end.  I was bummed that I had to go to my conference in the afternoon and miss out on staying at the spa after my treatment.

The Verdict:  What I think the Acqualina Resort does perfectly is service.  I almost felt as if the staff was reading my mind as my needs were always anticipated.  Everyone from the front desk to the valet to the housekeeping staff was friendly and looked like they loved working at the resort.  There’s a balance with feeling pampered and feeling overwhelmed by the attention that is difficult to strike.  The Acqualina does it perfectly.  So far,  the best service, amenities, and spa I’ve seen in the United States.

Info: Acqualina Resort & Spa, www.acqualinaresort.com

Disclaimer:  I was hosted by Acqualina Resort & Spa. As always, opinions are my own.

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Review of Hotel Le Crystal Montreal:

The Location:  Le Crystal Hotel is located in the city center of Montreal.  If you’re a business traveler, this is a great location to be as it is walking distance to many of the conference centers and large businesses in the city. Despite its central location, it’s located on Rue de la Montagne which is a quiet side street.  Also has quick access to the metro and bus lines.  If you love to walk like I do, it will take you 30 minutes to get to Old Montreal.  Dining Traveler Tip:  Have a drink nearby at Bier Markt.

The Scene: As you enter the hotel, you immediately know why it has the name “Le Crystal Hotel”.  There are several shimmering chandeliers with one main crystal structure which sits at the end of the lobby.  The staff is young, friendly, and stylish with its front desk staff sporting sharp black suits and bright red lipstick.

The Rooms:  We had a suite room with a separate sitting area, kitchenette, and bedroom.  The suite was pretty compact yet comfortable. The décor is modern with a neutral palette. I always enjoy a room with a kitchenette area in which you can bring drinks and snacks from the outside, it’s always more affordable than the minibar. The bathroom area was large and it had toiletries from Amerispa to include bath salts and loofah sponges. It’s all about the little things!  The one point of improvement is that the last day I asked for a late room cleaning from housekeeping and they never showed up. I told the front desk and also pressed the “make up room” button on when I left the room to no avail.  Aside from that, everything in the room was worked just fine.

The Food:  In true Montreal foodie fashion, the food at Le Crystal Hotel Montreal was great!  Our first morning at the hotel, we had room service breakfast.  It was a colorful platter of delicious breads, fruit, and yogurt.  The continental breakfast included with the room rate was delicious as well. I loved the modern rustic décor of the La Coupole, the property’s restaurant with its black walls and rustic white plates nailed to the walls.

We also had dinner at La Copule.  The vibe was relaxed yet elegant.  The restaurant was moderately busy with a combination of locals and hotel guests.  The restaurant focuses on local and seasonal products of the Quebec region. We enjoyed the cheese platter of local cheese as a starter. I then devoured the duck confit which was served with spaetzle and sweet potatoes.

The Amenities: Although the hotel has a boutique feel to it, it has plenty of amenities to choose from.  As a new digital nomad, I appreciate good wi-fi.  The wi-fi connection was great.  I was able to upload photos and make a few skype calls flawlessly.  We also took advantage of the gym on the top floor of the hotel with a great view of the city, which had a beautiful view of Mont Royal.  There is also a full size indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, and spa on the top floor of the hotel.

The Verdict: Despite the housekeeping snafu, I am happy we choose Le Crystal Hotel Montreal as our home away from home.  The hotel had all the luxuries we love with friendly and accommodating staff.  I love a luxury hotel that can balance a beautiful accommodation with an approachable staff.  If you’re looking for a place that strikes the perfect balance between business and leisure accommodation, the Hotel Le Crystal is for you.

* Disclaimer: Part of my stay was sponsored by Hotel Le Crystal Montreal but as always, opinions are my own. 

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