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Travel: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii. Over the years, I’ve been to many beach resorts, but Hawaii, with its volcanoes, hula skirts, and luaus, remained a dream. There were many excuses – the distance, the cost, never enough vacation days. But last year, I finally decided that it was time, and so le bf and I packed our suitcases and set off on a Hawaiian adventure.

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After doing a bit of research, we decided on Maui’s Kaanapali Beach – a beautiful stretch of waterfront a stone’s throw away from Lahaina Town, Whalers Village, and Black Rock. After reading reviews for several properties, we decided on Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, and what an awesome choice it was!

We arrived at our hotel at night, jet-lagged and sleep-deprived, but from the moment we stepped inside, we knew we were going to have a great stay. Check-in was a breeze, and once we got our keys, we took a stroll through the beautiful open-air courtyard, with twinkly lights everywhere, and headed to our room. The room itself was well-appointed and very spacious. But we didn’t really appreciate its awesomeness until the next morning, when I opened the blinds and was greeted with a spectacular view of the ocean, palm trees, and the resort. The view did not get old the entire stay – each and every morning and evening I walked out on our balcony feeling grateful and in awe of the beauty we were surrounded by.

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More after the jump!
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Travel: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hotel

I don’t know about you, but my usual hotel policy for travelling is this: don’t overspend, because you will likely spend way more time exploring outside of your room. This obviously doesn’t apply to honeymoons, and tropical vacays in general. So when looking for accomodation for our Vegas trip, le bf and I were trying to be economical, but I just could not get the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas out of my mind. Everyone kept recommending it, and it sure did look nice…so in the end, we decided to go for it, and boy, were we happy that we’d tried something new! Ever since we got back from our vacay, we’ve been gushing and raving about Cosmo to everyone who will listen, and here are some of the reasons why.

Rates: Truth be told, you could probably find a more affordable hotel on the strip. But the value that Cosmo offers (at their prices) simply cannot be beat! Plus, they do not charge the $20 per day resort fees, that most hotels add to your bill at the end of your stay, which helps cut the costs.

Check-in: Smooth and quick, with courteous reception attendants. We did have to wait in line for about 10-15 minutes when we arrived, but that was expected.

Location: On the strip, connected to Crystals shopping centre (aka the Holy Grail for shopaholics), smack dab in the middle of all the action. Paris and Planet Hollywood are both across the street, and Bellagio is just next door. It doesn’t get much better.

Room: Large and spacious, with amazing extras such as a hot tub, large standing glassed-in shower, double sinks, two flat-screen TVs, mini kitchenette, artsy Fornasetti wallpaper, and one of the best features ever – a balcony. Cosmo is the only hotel with views this incredible. Want to take a look at the Eiffel Tower? There it is! Bellagio fountains? Right in front of you. I really doubt you’d be able to find a better Vegas view anywhere.

Bed: SO damn comfortable…one of the best I’ve ever slept in. True story. Turn-down service in the evening added an extra bit of luxury to our stay.

Hotel: Brand spanking new, and gorgeous to boot. Both le boyfriend and I loved it! The entire place is designed in such a way, that you really don’t want to leave the resort – with amazing restaurants like Wicked Spoon (superb buffet), Holsteins (milkshakes, burgers, and lobster rolls…oh yeah!), China Poblano, and so many more – you really are in for a treat. And the gorgeous Chandelier Bar? Just stunning.

Casino: Can’t comment on the casino too much, because the only thing we did there was play slots…and lose. Wah-wah. But if you do sign up for their Identity Cards, you’ll get $10 of free play, which if you’re lucky, can turn into $1000 at the spin the wheel thing (a promo), but make sure to look for it before you spend your free play money.

Speaking of Identity Cards, you earn points on every dollar you spend at the hotel/casino. So if you have brunch at the Wicked Spoon, for example (highly recommended BTW), you earn points, if you play slots, you earn points, if you stay at the hotel, you earn points. And once you’ve collected 1500 points, you can use it as cash! Cha-ching!

Pools: Ok, so we’ve only been to the Bamboo pool, but I really enjoyed it, despite the 50 degree heat. There are a lot of loungers to go around, and the pool area has a nice, relaxing atmosphere. The music isn’t too loud or distracting. Perfect for soaking up the sun. And the rooftop views are just beyond!

Overall, I must admit, I really loved Cosmopolitan Las Vegas – it had everything I needed and so much more – great food, amazing rooms, gorgeous views, kick-ass location…you name it. After our 3 nights were up, we literally did not want to leave. Needless to say, this will be my Vegas base for any future trips. I simply can’t wait to go back!

More photos after the jump!

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Travel: Bisha Hotel & Residences

I vividly recall the shutting down of Diesel Playhouse a couple of years back. Le boyfriend and I were really looking forward to seeing Cannibal! The Musical, but when he went to the theatre to buy tickets, leboyfriend was greeted by boarded up doors. Needless to say, I was super bummed for a while after that.

Well, for the first time in a while, something worthy is coming to replace the much-missed venue – Bisha Hotels & Residences – new swanky hotel brought to life by Charles Khabouth’s INK Entertainment, along with Lifetime Developments’ Mel Pearl and Sam Herzog. What Bisha is supposed to represent, according to Khabouth is “the marriage of cool and luxury”. With its modern design, and an abundance of luxurious touches, Bisha will definitely bring a touch of much-needed class to the neighborhood.

Bisha is slated to open in 2015, with around half of the units already sold! If you want to get a piece of Bisha opulence for yourself, go ahead and check out the available model suites at 56 Blue Jays Way. I’m pretty sure you’ll be impressed.

Photo Credits: Matchstick

Travel: Maison Moschino Hotel

Even though it’s going against the way I’m feeling at the moment (rather annoyed), I consider myself a very lucky person. I love to travel, and have been trying to get out of the city any chance I get. The last three years marked a particular spike in my travel hours, having been to Paris three times in as many years, Rome, Sorrento (one of favorite places for sure), Madrid, Krakow, London, Almaty, Lugano, Cabo, Varadero, Vegas, Houston, among a few others. And though I promised myself that last year’s European getaway was my last for a while, here I am planning yet another one this fall. I guess Europe just doesn’t want to let me go?

One of my stops this year is Milan – fashion capital of Italy. While looking for suitable lodging in the city, I came across Maison Moschino hotel, consisting of 65 rooms inspired by various fairy tales, from Alice in Wonderland to Little Red Riding Hood. The rooms look so chic and whimsical, that if not for the fact that I have to stay in Milan for 3 nights (and 300EUR per night will surely add up), I would no doubt book a room at Maison Moschino. Perhaps le boyfriend and I will check out the hotel bar instead, grab a dessert at their chic restaurant, and maybe even sneak upstairs to see the rooms in their cutesy glory.

But I guess with designer bars, restaurants and hotels being all the rage in Milan, I might be too busy dancing the night away at Just Cavalli Café, or dining at the glam Gold by Dolce and Gabbana, or maybe having a drink at the understated Armani Cafe – to be too sad about not staying at Maison Moschino after all.

What are your thoughts on Maison Moschino? Have you been to Milan or Florence? Do you have any “must-see” recommendations for us? Please share in the comments!

Photo Credits: Maison Moschino

Travel: Marriott in Muskoka

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Ahh, summer! I really wish we had a better one, but you gotta take what you’re given and squeeze every last drop out of it.

I love water! I love swimming and chillaxing on the beach, so living in Ontario is quite cool, since we’re surrounded by so many lakes! The only glitch is, if like me, you don’t have a cottage, it gets quite tough to find nice accommodations in Muskoka. Last time we were planning a trip North, I’ve spent hours (literally) searching for a nice place to stay. There are tons of cottages for rent, but not all of them look nice, and most of them will cost you an arm and a leg. B&Bs could work too, but are hit and miss, unless you stay at highly recommended ones, which usually book up way ahead of time. So what to do?

Stay at the Marriott! Seriously, it was cheaper than a B&B and you get your own bathroom, kitchen, King bed, balcony, complimentary breakfast and parking, and other amenities, like a hot tub and a swimming pool! Residence Inn Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf opened in 2009, and is brand spanking new! The rooms are impeccable, and you can cook inside if you choose to (they even have pots and pans!). Most rooms also come with a pullout couch, which is super convenient if you’re staying with kids or friends. The hotel is well-situated, right at the Muskoka Wharf, literally a 5-minute walk to the marina. The room only cost us $149 per night (including breakfast!). I really loved everything about this hotel, and would definitely go back!

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And if you’re wondering if this is a paid plug, it is not! Just a friendly, and hopefully helpful tip for those that are planning a Muskoka trip soon.

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