Jails, Homeless Shelters, & Soup Kitchens Turned Hotels

Call it coincidence, but in this month’s edition of concierge.com they’ve listed 10 hotels across the globe with a spooky past. (Coughs, can we say perfect timing for Halloween, hmm?) After going through each one, I noticed the history of some were creepier than others depending on what you tend to get spooked by. Shack up in a past crime den, nun’s cell, jail or my personal favorite an old soup kitchen. From the photos featured one might not ever know that these places have a tale to tell, but don’t let the looks deceive you. When you’re at rest in bed the howling you hear isn’t coming from the outside. It’s the cry of the mentally unhinged resident that stayed there before you. (Insert: horror laughter.) I’m only kidding – sort of.

Check out the Poor House: Hopper Hotel Et Cetera in Cologne, Germany which now sits as a cheap-chic boutique hotel, but was once a homeless shelter and soup kitchen. Heading to Puerto Rico? Stay at the old Carmelite convent, now one of San Juans’ most luxurious hotels was once home to 11 nuns that moved out in 1903. If you’re in need of prison time look at their picks out of Turkey and the U.K., just don’t say I didn’t try to warn you of their bone-chilling ambience.

One Hundred Very Angry U.S. Cities

Why this list of angry U.S. cities makes me laugh – I don’t know? Could it be that Orlando, the very home of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Mickey Mouse ranks number one for some bizarre reason? Maybe it’s because my city (Tampa, FL) ranks 12 and the near by St. Petersburg, FL comes in second? So my first question is this – what’s up with all the anger Florida?

World Hum points readers to a fine piece from Men’s Health focusing on 100 very angry U.S. cities. The ranking was based off factors like percentage of men with high blood pressure, FBI rates of aggravated assaults, Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers on workplace deaths from assaults and other violence in addition to road rage. Whew! With all those ugly factors and Orlando placing tops on the anger totem, some of you may be a little afraid to see where your place of residence ranks. Others may not be so surprised.

Aqua Hotel – Miami, FL


Big tourist flooded cities have few secrets left to be revealed and as far as I am concerned, Aqua, a boutique hotel sitting a block off of South Beach on Collins Ave is one of them. (Sssh – Don’t tell.) I’d read about the hotel last year sometime in a USA Today piece and made special note to stay during my next trip to Miami. Upon my arrival I was greeted by a tall gentleman who claimed they’d been waiting for me there.

“You have?” I asked.

Whether he was just throwing out some cheeky hospitality line from a manual or not it truly felt as if they had been waiting for me. It is low season for most businesses in the area and the hotel felt pretty quiet which is what probably led him to giving me a free room upgrade. Thanking him kindly with the key to my sweet Miami suite, I made my way to the back where my intimate tropical piece of paradise awaited. Simple, sleek, spacious and cozy easily all describe the room the before me. The interior design was beyond inviting. I wished I could stay forever.

The amenities are many. Complimetary WiFi, television, pool, kitchen, microwave, refrigerator, huge closets, continental breakfast and easy access to almost anything in South Beach’s art-deco area make Aqua a sure sale. Very reasonably priced for location, clean and superior service from all the staff will have this place hummin’ during in prime tourist season and the perfect escape in the off-season. Rates vary so check them out online or call for more information. You’ll be glad you did.

Aqua is located at 1530 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Ph. 305.538.4361. www.aquamiami.com

B.E.D., Miami

Tonight, things are quiet here in Tampa. Just the clicking from my computer keyboard and some light music plays, but in the distance, some 300 miles away, I hear reggaeton, salsa, hip-hop and feel the pulse of Miami. It rests in my thoughts and tomorrow night I will do it BIG! I’ll take to the streets like the most untamed tourist, belting out lyrics from classic G. Estefan songs and when I’ve exhausted myself I’ll tuck myself in for B.E.D.

That’s right I’m going to B.E.D. for the first time ever. Should I be excited? I don’t know. Going to B.E.D. in Miami wasn’t part of my original plans which were basically no plans other than a wedding I must attend, but I’m game for the concept restaurant where the dinner, dessert and drinks are all served in beds throughout the establishment. Located in the heart of South Beach at 929 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL, B.E.D. has been known to attract a slew of celebrities and aspiring young, beautiful people from around the globe. Certainly sounds a little high-profile for a sheepish blogger like myself. Perhaps I should just stay in my hotel bed, eh?

So what do you say? To go to B.E.D. or not to? That is the question? (If not, feel free to toss out some rec’s please.)

Horrifying Miami Hotel Deaths

File this under: World Gone Mad.

A father of two on vacation in Miami, FL from Alton, IL killed his two young children, ages 4 and 8, by throwing them off the 15th floor of the Loews Hotel in South Beach. Moments after tossing the kids from the balcony he jumped to his own death. According to this AOL news piece the mother and father of the two children had been having marital problems for the past six months, yet the family had been celebrating the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary. The mother had no idea why the husband killed the children and himself.

I just can’t bring myself to imagine the horror of looking over a balcony to discover my entire family dead. These types of acts seem like the most gruesome and selfish of any kind. Man – poor woman. Guests in neighboring rooms did not hear any noises, but for those who had to witness and see such a terrifying scene going into the holiday weekend must be pretty bummed, to say the least.

Ugh!