Escaping Holiday Inns (and Other Chains)
In my ongoing search for lodging that is above the ordinary, I recently discovered Provenance Hotels, a group that offers just the kind of creative off-beat properties I like. All of the group's four properties (and a new one opening soon) are unique. The hotel deluxe, located in Portland, Ore., has a classic glamour film theme. All the decor -- from a wall with an oversized portrait of Jimmy Stewart to a whole floor devoted to Hitchhock -- is celluloid-oriented. The Hotel Lucia, also in Portland, is decorated with pictures by David Hume Kennerly, the former White House photographer. The Hotel Rex, in Seattle, features a whole floor of photos of grunge performers. At the zany Hotel Preston in Nashville, guests can borrow a goldfish bowl complete with fish to keep in the room during their stay. A new property, the Murano, set to open this fall in Tacoma, will be adorned with works by glass artists from all over the world.
Has anybody else out there discovered offbeat or novel hotels or hotel groups they can recommend?
By Gary Lee |
April 19, 2007; 3:18 PM ET
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Posted by: Balti | April 19, 2007 3:43 PM
for people who can handle more pedestrian hotels, I would recommend the Best Western chain. I've stayed in a number of them in Europe. What Best Western did was by up local hotels, slapped the BW label on them but let them stay local hotels. This way, folks get the benefits of having someone speaking English behind the front desk but it's run like the local hotel it always was.
Posted by: bethesda | April 19, 2007 5:12 PM
The Kimpton Group has great fun boutique hotels (including the Monaco's) all over the US and a few in Canada. They all have different themes and offer a free wine reception or some other daily event.
In Europe the brand to go for that is fun and different are the Design Hotel Group.
Posted by: Rachelle | April 20, 2007 4:43 AM
I've had good experiences at the Kimpton Hotels chain, and at the Affinia Hotels in Manhattan.
I would *love* to keep a fishbowl in my hotel room! There are one or two other hotels that do that, and I have yet to stay in one-- looking forward to doing so!
Posted by: CastaLusoria | April 20, 2007 10:24 AM
Let me sing Kimpton's praises:
they give you a real newspaper.
they give you chocolate on your pillow.
they have a yoga channel.
they have good coffee.
they have great employees.
they make you feel at home. As if your home would ever look that hip.
Posted by: More on Kimpton | April 20, 2007 12:06 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I have stayed in two different Hotel Monaco's (Denver and San Francisco.) They have a very European flavor and offer such amenities as the goldfish you spoke of and complimentary evening wine tastings. I believe they are part of a larger chain.