Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows ~ Hawaii, the Big Island – The second stop on our most recent visit to Hawaii, the Big Island, was the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows.
Mauna Lani sits oceanfront on the finest stretch of shoreline on the sunny Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Located 23 miles north of the Kona International Airport, this resort features 30 oceanfront acres and three miles of secluded shoreline. The resort includes the luxurious Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Mauna Lani Spa and the Francis H I’i. Brown Golf Courses.
The resort features 343 guestrooms and suites all with private lanais.
The resort is also no stranger to awards and accolades having most recently been named:
CONDE? NAST TRAVELER ? Gold List, Best Places in the World to Stay
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows is ranked in the Top 14 resorts in Hawaii. Jan 2011
TRAVEL + LEISURE ? World’s Best T+L 500 Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows is ranked #2 on the Island of Hawaii by Travel + Leisure magazine’s T + L 500 List. Jan 2011
ISLANDS – The 10 Most Exotic Spa Treatments Mauna Lani Spa’s Lava Watsu Treatment is recognized in the top ten. Jan/Feb 2011
AAA Four-Diamond Award – since 1999.
As we pulled up to Mauna Lani’s portico, Carol was immediately greeted with a traditional Hawaiian lei while I was given a lei of wooden beads. We were quickly ushered to sit at the reception desk where we were given chilled towels to wash our hands/face, along with a very refreshing tropical drink to make us welcome. What a wonderful first impression!
The Mauna Lani is built in the shape of an arrow so that nearly every room has a beautiful ocean view from their private lanais. We were quickly ushered up to room #678 and enjoyed not only an ocean view, but a dramatic view across the resort grounds.
After cleaning up for dinner, we were very excited to be dining at Mauna Lani’s ocean-front CanoeHouse restaurant.
As you can see in the photograph above, CanoeHouse restaurant enjoys an idyllic ocean setting which is greatly complimented with the fresh Hawaiian cuisine of Chefs Sandy Tuason and James Ortiaga.
We were joined by Bree Dallwitz (the Aussie Director of Public Relations) for dinner, and before long we were sipping on a flute of champagne, and enjoying beginnings like Duo of Ahi Tuna, a Crudo Tasting, Pumpkin Ravioli, Kabocha Squash Soup, and Hamakua Springs Heirloom Tomatoes. Wow!
As we continued our sampling into the main courses, we noshed on Opakapaka, Ono, and incredible Colorado Rack of Lamb w/ potato pancake, Beef Short Ribs, and Hamakua Mushroom Risotto. As our side dish, we couldn’t resist Backed Mac N’ Cheese (Gruyere, White Cheddar, Comte with Truffles). Holy jump up and down Batman. Absolutely astounding!
And of course, our waiter wouldn’t let us leave until we sampled the Cloud Forest Farm Organic Coffee Rice Pudding. Oh! That was good, and required a letting out of the belt one notch. Wowza!
What an incredible evening. We started out at 6:30 and didn’t leave the restaurant until shortly after 10:00. I should also add that the romantic ambiance of the evening was also added to greatly by local Hawaiian singer, John Palos.
Fond Memories
First impression at check-in.
Carol’s facial in the Mauna Lani Spa was amazing.
Spectacular sunset while dinning at CanoeHouse.
Snorkeling at Mauna Lani’s beach.
Watching humpback whales from our private lanai.
Complimentary lounge-chair cabanas on the white sand beach.
Stunningly beautiful grounds for your morning walk.
We enjoyed our visit at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows and you will find this resort to be a Hawaiian getaway. Our advice, keep an sharp eye out for their continual stream of online specials.
Disclosure: Our experience was provided by the kind folks at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows. Thanks! Further, a portion of our travel expenses were provided by the kind people of the State of Hawaii through their Visitors and Conventions Bureau. Thanks Hawaii!
The Inn and Spa at Loretto ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico – After a late night run to sleep in Gallup, New Mexico from the Grand Canyon, day #3 of our seven-day baby boomer road trip found us in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Santa Fe, New Mexico is a favorite of ours, and we were happy to be showing off the town to our Michigan friends.
We arrived to the Inn and Spa at Loretto in the early afternoon. Carol and I headed off to a local medical clinic (Dave was a sick puppy) while Bob & Karen enjoyed a great time of shopping around the town square of Santa Fe.
Opened in 1975, the AAA Four-Diamond Inn and Spa at Loretto sits within easy walking distance to 400 year-old Santa Fe’s Canyon Road’s “Artists’ Row”, the Plaza and the Palace of the Governors, Georgia O’Keefe Museum, boutiques, shops and restaurants.
The Inn and Spa at Loretto embodies the culture of the region, utilizing adobe-style architecture and reflecting the true spirit and history of Santa Fe. Inspired by the famed Taos Pueblo, the Inn incorporates the style of 13th century pueblos into nearly every design detail, from handcrafted doors, windows and fixtures to petroglyphs, weavings and a warm kiva hearth.
People who love food love Santa Fe dining. Here, food is an art form designed to stimulate all the senses through flavor, aroma, texture and presentation. The Inn and Spa at Loretto celebrates the art of food in genuine New Mexico tradition by presenting Santa Fe’s only “Conscious Cuisine” dining experience. Chef Matt Ostrander uses the very freshest local and organic ingredients.
We loved the Inn and Spa at Loretto. Our rooms were very comfortable, the downtown location superb, and our dining experience was absolutely fantastic.
We would highly recommend a stay at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, and implore you to experience the “conscious cuisine” from Chef Matt Ostrander’s Luminaria restaurant.
Disclosure: Our lodging and dining experiences were provided by the very kind folks at the Inn and Spa at Loretto. Thanks for a wonderful experience!
The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is set in a picturesque Western setting. Designed to resemble the century-old train depot that housed the original Fray Marcos Hotel, opened by the Santa Fe Railroad as a Harvey House, the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel provided us a relaxing night’s sleep before we journeyed aboard the train for the Grand Canyon.
In the morning, we explored the historic Williams Depot, and then were ushered to a mock western town where we were entertained by Marshall John B. Goodmore as he attempted to keep the Cataract Creek Gang in line.
At 9:30, it was “all aboard” as we climbed up into the luxury parlor class car for the two-hour and fifteen minute journey to the Grand Canyon. During our journey we were entertained by strolling musicians, enjoyed continual jokes and information from our wonderful hostess, noshed on fresh fruit, pastries, coffee and juice, and luxuriated in comfy leather seating worthy of a railroad baron. If you can swing the price of the luxury parlor car, do it!
All four of us were in complete agreement that the Grand Canyon Railroad experience was fantastic and highly recommended.
Disclosure: our turn of the century railroad experience was provided by the kind folks at the Grand Canyon Railway. Thank you very much!
I’ll never forget the shock I felt when I first surveyed the taxes paid when renting a car from an airport location for the first time.
Holy taxman in my pocket Batman!
A recent survey by the US Travel Association points out that these high taxes affect the behavior of travelers, and that local taxing authorities would do well to consider carefully the assessment of this “easy money”.
The U.S. Travel Association today announced the initial study of its new Travel Tax Institute, the nation’s preeminent center of research and expertise on rising travel taxes at the city, county and state levels. The Institute conducts comprehensive research and provides accessible information on travel taxation and the potential impact on both local economies and the broader U.S. economy.
“Travelers are often considered an easy tax target, but few public officials understand how rising travel taxes influence consumer behavior and impact the economy,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “We believe it’s important that political leaders see travelers not just as ‘out-of-towners,’ but as key supporters of local jobs, businesses and development.”
As its inaugural project, the Travel Tax Institute conducted a new survey on consumer attitudes toward travel taxes. The research reveals that taxation has a clear impact on travel planning and spending decisions. Among the key findings:
High Taxes Alter Travel Plans: 49% of travelers say they have altered their plans due to high travel taxes, including staying at less expensive hotels, spending less on shopping and entertainment, and visiting during the off-season.
Taxes on Hotels, Airfare High: 68% of travelers rated hotel taxes as “very high” (35%) or “high” (33%); 66% rated taxes on airfare as “very high” (38%) or “high” (28%).
Travelers Surprised by High Rental Car Taxes: Nearly two out of three travelers surveyed (64%) say that the total tax rate on rental cars is “much more” than they expected to pay compared to other travel taxes.
Travelers See Taxes Rising: Nearly two-thirds (65%) say they expect to pay higher travel taxes in the year ahead; only two percent believe taxes will decrease.
Travel Taxes Should Fund Travel Infrastructure: 60% of travelers said travel taxes should be reinvested in travel infrastructure, such as roads and airports, while 49% said “travel/tourism marketing and promotion” also would be an appropriate use of the revenues. Only 14% of surveyed travelers cited “non-travel related expenditures” such as “contributions to government general funds” as an “appropriate” use of travel taxes.
In addition to surveying consumer attitudes, the Travel Tax Institute is creating a comprehensive database to track travel taxes in 50 U.S. destinations – from taxes on airfare and lodging to rental cars and restaurants. The database will also track the uses of these tax revenues, such as funding of destination marketing programs or contributions to the general fund. The database will be available to U.S. Travel members.
The Travel Tax Institute also has launched a price elasticity research project to better understand travelers’ sensitivity to price and the degree to which current and potential travel tax and fee levels could be reducing demand for travel.
“Government leaders are understandably facing difficult budget decisions,” said Dow. “But too often they are setting travel tax policy without a full understanding of how taxes affect travel demand and impact their local economies. The Travel Tax Institute will equip policymakers and industry leaders with the tools they need to make informed decisions.”
Even with ever-increasing gas prices, almost nine out of 10 B&B travelers are planning the same or more leisure trips this summer compared to last year, according to BedandBreakfast.com, which today announces its Top 20 Summer Destinations for B&B Travelers. With the exception of the always popular destinations of New York, Boston, Washington, DC and San Francisco, travelers prefer smaller U.S. destinations for their B&B weekend getaways, yet when it comes to travel outside the U.S., they seek out more intimate accommodations offered by B&Bs when visiting large European cities.
“From scenic shorelines and charming towns to historical landmarks, the Eastern coast boasts the most popular U.S. B&B destinations for summer travel,” says Martin Slagter, vice president of HomeAway, Inc., which owns BedandBreakfast.com. “Travelers are looking for quiet, romantic getaways or spending the weekend exploring destinations rich in history and culture.”
Slagter says B&B travelers typically travel by car to destinations between 100-250 miles away, and choose B&Bs primarily to get away from the masses that stay at hotels, and to enjoy more intimate, interesting accommodations, home-cooked breakfast and refreshments, and other free amenities such as Internet and onsite parking.
Interestingly, four out of the top 20 destinations among Americans for summer travel are in Europe (London, Amsterdam, Rome, and Barcelona).
“Since BedandBreakfast.com expanded into Europe last year, we have seen more interest among North American travelers in staying in B&Bs when traveling abroad,” Slagter says.
According to a March 2011 surveyof B&B travelers by BedandBreakfast.com, nine out of 10 (90.3%) say they will take at least one weekend getaway this summer, and nearly two-thirds (62.3%) say they will take two or more weekend getaways this summer.
BedandBreakfast.com offers a Summer Specials page, which lists inns around the world offering discounts, free night stays, gas cards and other specials for B&B travelers. Its Diamond Collection is an exclusive group of professionally inspected and guest-reviewed luxury inns that offer private bathrooms, 24-hour access to service or staff, free Internet, flexible check-in or guaranteed late arrival, and maintain a 4.0 or higher consumer review rating on BedandBreakfast.com.
The Roaming Boomers
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows ~ Hawaii, the Big Island – The second stop on our most recent visit to Hawaii, the Big Island, was the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows.
The Mauna Lani is built in the shape of an arrow so that nearly every room has a beautiful ocean view from their private lanais. We were quickly ushered up to room #678 and enjoyed not only an ocean view, but a dramatic view across the resort grounds.
