Marriott International to open first luxury hotel in Jordan

by Melanie Nayer on


The Marriott International hotel group will open its first luxury hotel in Jordan in 2013.

The 264-room JW Marriott Hotel Aqaba will sit on the northern beach of the Gulf of Aqaba and provide easy access to top tourist spots including Petra and Wadi Rum. Marriott is boosting the “stylish, contemporary JW Marriott Hotel Aqaba will complement its exterior environs with public areas that offer space, light and excitement. It will feature a wide range of food & beverage offerings, including an informal, vibrant lobby lounge; a pool bar with a covered terrace; an all-day casual restaurant; a specialty steak outlet; a restaurant connected to the marina and a Champions sports bar.”

Other amenities include on-site WiFi and Internet access, an executive lounge, a book shop, spa (featuring a Turkish bath), retail outlets and a business center.

Public warned of sex offenders living at Huntington Beach hotel

by Melanie Nayer on

Police officers handed out fliers at the Extended Stay of America in Huntington Beach, California, to let visitors know about five registered sex offenders living at the hotel. According to the Orange County Register News, the flier lists the offenders names, photos and ages.

“Because of the high number of these paroled sex offenders residing in such close proximity, the … information is being furnished to inform and protect the community,” the flier, which was obtained by the newspaper, says. “The purpose of the release of this information is to allow the public to protect themselves and their children from sex offenders.”

According to reports, the five men have been accused of everything from lewd or lascivious acts with minors, to sexual battery and rape. The information was released under California’s Megan’s Law, which provides the public with certain information on the whereabouts of sex offenders in local communities. More information is available on the Megan’s Law website.

Daily Pampering: Simple meets sweet at the Bitter End Yacht Club

by Melanie Nayer on


Forget about room keys and security cards – the only way to lock your bedroom door at the Bitter End Yacht Club is from the inside of the room. That means when you leave the room for a day of sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling or kite surfing, you leave your door unlocked. Seems like a hard lesson to take on in a new destination, but it’s worth trusting this Caribbean island hotspot.

The rooms at the Bitter End Yacht Club are designed with a mixture of Indian and Aztec designs, and come complete with private balconies and a free bottle of rum. I was so entranced by the ambiance of the resort I didn’t notice the rooms were missing the simple necessities I’m used to: Internet access and a TV. But, nothing says “daily pampering” like f
alling asleep on your own private hammock under the stars and waking up to the sound of the ocean.

No TV. No Internet access. No problem.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

An alternate use for a hotel iron – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Hotel irons have more uses than just getting the wrinkles out. Pack a few feet of aluminum foil in your luggage, and you’ve got all the tools you need for cooking and reheating food.

Grilled cheese is simple to make! Just wrap it in foil and lay the iron on top of it.

Irons also work great for reheating food that you may have brought back from a restaurant. Anything that you can spread between aluminum foil can be reheated. I’ve reheated everything from pancakes to shrimp scampi for a late night snack. I’ve used this trick for years.

Tip: It works best when you turn off the steam option on the iron.

Four hot, sticky and sweet deals in New England this spring

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Now that the freeze that grips New England is easing up, the region’s becoming dirty, sticky and sweet. “Mud and maple season” is upon us says the New England Inn and Resorts Association, and its members are offering some delectable deals to lure you up to its small corner of the country. NEIRA boasts more than 250 member properties, but I just don’t have the stamina to poll all of them to find out their deals for spring. So for now, at least, let’s stick with the top four.

1. Mud Season Getaway: Three Stallion Inn, Randolph, VT
Spend your time hiking on 35 km of trails … after having started your day with a Vermont breakfast cooked to order. At night, enjoy a gourmet dinner, served with mudslide drinks and mini-mud pies for dessert. You can get all this for $242 per couple per night through April 30, 2010.
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2. Maple Sugaring Weekend Getaway: Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford, VT
Pick up two nights, an intimate dinner for two and breakfast every day with this package. You’ll also be invited to afternoon tea and take home a gift of maple syrup and maple candy. While you’re up in Lower Waterford, take advantage of two free passes to the Rocks Estate Maple Experience. Rates start at $500 a couple.
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3. March Maple Tree Hugger Package: Centennial Inn Hotel, Farmington, CT
Any deal that involves a jug of maple syrup is bound to get my attention! In addition to that gift, you’ll score a night in a studio suite, breakfast and maps to sugar houses. Also, for every booking, which starts at a mere $135, the Centennial will donate $10 to the ARBOR Foundation. This deal’s only good through the end of March.
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4. Celebrating Maine Mud Package: Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, ME
With your two nights in a single-bedroom accommodation, settle in and enjoy a Peppermint Maine Mud™ with chocolate chip cookie amenity, two mudslide cocktails by the fireplace and two pairs of L.L. Bean signature boots for walking in the mud. At $687.98 per couple, this is a bargain. You’ll have to stay by April 30, 2010.
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