Travel

I recently spent two nights each at two of Houston's hottest hotels: Hotel ZaZa (opened last year) and Hotel Icon (recently wrapped up a major renovation).

Both were luxurious but in very different ways. Hotel ZaZa is a hipster haven -- make that hipsters with day jobs that mean they can afford the mid- to high-$200 starting rate for standard rooms. (The "petite" room category starts just under $200 and the rooms are trendy and chic, just a bit on the smaller side.)

ZaZa used to be the historic neoclassical Warwick hotel until a massive renovation turned it into swanky 315-room bastion of coolness. Especially funky are the themed suites decked out in clever motifs like the space theme in the "Houston, We Have a Problem" room.

I lucked out and got to stay in the Warwick apartment suite and it was beyond beautiful. The design was a mix of traditional European elegance with high-style touches like modern art and Italian sculptures. It had a kitchenette, balcony and great views overlooking the park. It's opulent, luxurious and not for the faint of wallet. It costs upwards of $2,000 a night.

The hotel's Monarch restaurant is good but a tad pricey. The bar, with an indoor and outdoor area, is THE place to see and be seen.

Hotel ZaZa, 5701 Main St., (713) 526-1991 or (888) 880-3244.

Located in Houston's Museum District, ZaZa is close to the city's light rail system. So is Hotel Icon in Houston's downtown.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I had a hard enough time narrowing down a place to get hitched in Chicago. My veil's off to anyone ambitious enough to plan a destination wedding.

Fodor's "Destination Weddings" has some suggestions when it comes to extraordinary places to tie the knot. Among them:

The dramatic Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. It's a fairytale setting, but Fodor's notes that laws for marrying in the Republic of Ireland are complex, so contact the Irish consulate before you order those Belleek favors.

All the cool kids will want to exchange vows in Sweden's Ice Hotel. A new funky, freezing palace gets built from ice and snow every year in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. The hotel has a wedding coordinator who can help you with everything from the catering to the mandatory visit to the tax office in Kiruna for the marriage certificate.

Thinking of something a little, well, warmer? How about a beach surrounded by flaming torches at Crown Beach Resort in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The happy couple can arrive courtesy of native warriors who will carry you aloft in a chair, or you can come by canoe while drums beat in the background. Very Survivor-ish.

These are just a few of the many suggested spots detailed in the Fodor's book, which I'm happy to give to the first bride or groom willing to let me write a story about their destination wedding once it's over. (Don't worry, I won't crash the party. I just want to talk to you about it after the honeymoon's over.)

Let me know if you're game, and good luck!

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A quiz question in a recent Sunday Travel section asked which Caribbean island was invaded by the U.S. in 1983.

Lots of you wrote in with the correct response (albeit misspelled). But hey, if it would fly on "Jeopardy!" I'll take it too. And those who write in a daily newspaper for a living should be very careful about castigating folks for spelling errors.

Anyway, a reader named Deb emailed me first with the correct response early Saturday afternoon, so she won herself a trio of Caribbean guidebooks.

Check out this Sunday's Alaska Travel issue for another chance to win.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So today's Travel story was all about a Chicago couple who chartered their own private yacht for their honeymoon.

If terra firma is more your speed, you might want to check out the new "Honeymoon in the Desert" package being offered by the Horizon Hotel in lovely Palm Springs, Calif.

The newly renovated mid-century modern hotel is giving newlyweds a three-night stay in a king deluxe room, where you'll be greeted with a free bottle of bubbly upon arrival. You get a dinner for two at Zin American Bistro and two spa treatments at Revive Salon and Day Spa. You'll also get two tickets for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (that's a must, by the way -- you get great views of the stunning Coachella Valley).

The package is being offered for $995 (a $1,425 value). It's good from April through October.

Call (800) 377-7855 and ask for the "honeymoon in the desert" deal, or go to www.thehorizonhotel.com.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Austin has its share of "nice" hotels. The Four Seasons. The historic Driskill.

But this is a city that celebrates uniqueness and quirkiness, so why not stay in a hotel -- make that motel -- that embodies the Texas captial's independent, funky spirit? If that's what you're after, there's only one place to stay: the Austin Motel.

Each of the 41 rooms -- which start as low as $100 a night, tax included -- is done up in an unusual way. Nothing fancy, just unusual. Like murals of the Great Wall of China or polka dot themes. I stayed in a room meant to resemble an African safari. Cheesy? It would be if the hotel were trying for authenticity. It's clear the owners are just having fun.

The Austin Motel turns 70 years old this year. It's been owned and operated by the same family since 1938. That itself is pretty weird in the hotel industry.

One of the first things you'll notice about this hotel is its ridiculously phallic sign. The next thing you may spot is the 50s-era pool which is a welcome touch during hot Texas summers.

Arguably the best thing about the Austin Motel is its primo location on South Congress Avenue. You're stumbling distance from one of the city's best music venues, the Continental Club. You're a short walk to some of Austin's best restaurants (and the over-rated Guero's taco house) and shops. And you're very close to the uber-hip Jo's coffeeshop and Amy's ice cream parlor.

So check in and check it out next time you're in Austin...

(512) 441-1157 or austinmotel.com.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)