Hard Rock has made several announcements recently regarding their
latest hotel openings. First, in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Hard Rock will build a
new property in close proximity to the
Padres Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center. And, in an interesting new twist, the rooms in this
hotel-condo will be for sale — 420 luxury rooms and suites starting in the
$400s. Construction will not be complete until Spring 2007. The second announcement comes from Madrid,
where the first ever European Hard Rock Hotel
is gearing up to finally open in Spring 2006, although it was originally slated to begin operations before the end of
this year. The 192-room hotel occupies the historic Gran Hotel Reina Victoria, and is currently accepting reservations
for March. Finally, the New York Hard Rock Hotel opening has also been pushed back to sometime in
2006, as soon as the old Paramount Hotel
has finished being refurbished. No word yet on what month it is expected to open. So — I’m curious to hear from folks
who have ever stayed in a Hard Rock Hotel — what was your experience like? Would you stay in one again? Maybe one of
these new properties? And would you ever even consider buying a condo in a party-scene Hard Rock Hotel? (I guess if
partying is your thing, uh, yes?!) I know the HR Cafes are considered tourist traps by some — do the hotels have the
same reputation?