Beauty in New Hampshire

I saw the feature picture, and i didn't care where it was, i wanted to go. Little did i know it was just a short trip north, to the Mount Washington Hotel surronded by the Presidential Mountain Range. Kent St. John depicts the beauty and history in his article, "The White Mountain's Grande Dame."

Traveling up the mile long driveway toward the hotel is a captivating experience that doesn't diminish no matter how many times you take it. The 200-room pearl white Spanish Renaissance structure has the majestic Mount Washington for its focal companion. From a distance the distinctive red roof gives it an Alpine feel. The main hotel has over 900 ft. of verandah that captures the heart of the Presidential Range.

Upon entry you will step back 100 years! Huge stone fireplaces and a grand lobby will mark a period in time not found in many places today. It takes you back to the days when a vacation meant enjoying your companions, nature and place.

On our last visit, in March, we stayed in the main hotel. It's an experience like being on a big old fashioned ocean liner. The halls are so long and the rooms are each named for a dignitary who stayed there during the 1940s when the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were created in the hotel's Gold Room.

I personally like to stay in the Bretton Arms Country Inn. It's on the hotel grounds and each of the 34 rooms is filled with Victorian charm. It is also where the chauffeurs stayed while the big bank bosses cozied up at the main hotel. The small restaurant on the ground floor offers meals that any bon vivant would love. A wonderful lower budget option is the Bretton Woods Motor Inn with views of the Grande Dame. If going with a group or bigger family, a great alternative is to rent a Townhouse mountainside. They are large, comfortable and offer fireplaces, decks and full home facilities.

The resort also offers many special event weekends such as Murder Mystery and Gourmet Dining. The best event may just be relaxing and doing nothing at all. The veranda is a great place to amid the mountains and the trout-filled stream that passes the hotel. Getting lost on the many trails is also a peaceful selection. If in the mood, do it on the back of a horse.

TvTrip - The True Side to Hotels

I am sure most of you reading this can attest to a time in the past when travel plans were all set and done, but as soon as you pulled up to the hotel you booked months in advance you realize that you made a horrible mistake. Not having a clean, dry, safe, or flee infested hotel is always best, but sometimes the photos online just don't do justice for the real thing. A great new site that has hit the internet, could make any travel hotel plans a bit easier. TvTrip.com is the name of the site which offers photo and video footage of hotels across the world, which give a 100% real representation of hotels. A article on GoNOMAD.com that I wrote has the whole scoop - Check out more from Avoiding Nightmare Hotels: TVTrip Takes the Guesswork Out of Travel Planning

TvTrip.com has taken the guesswork out of the equation. No longer will the average traveler have to stress about the quality and condition of his/her lodging.

This website provides viewers with videos of hotels at their destinations showing exteriors, dining areas, lobbies, rooms, and even the view from the window.

Created in Paris in 2007, former Expedia managers came together and pondered over what was missing from the tourism industry. They came up with the idea of TVtrip and it caught on like wildfire.

Offered in more than five languages and having more than one thousand hotels on-board, this website is designed with international travelers in mind.

Like other hotel websites it is possible for people to book their accommodations on the TVtrip site; however they are not a travel agent or booking company. The site also provides information about services provided by third parties. Mainly it was founded in order to provide knowledge and a firsthand view of your establishment.

Now guests will feel even more confident about their selection due to the video feature of TVtrip. It provides videos of the rooms, as well as the dining areas, pools, meeting rooms, lounges, the outside of the hotel, and even the surrounding town, city or country.

The videos taken are not edited or altered by the hotel. What you see is what you get. Easy to view, unbiased, informative, professional videos give an accurate picture of the accommodations.

For more of this article and others, visit GoNOMAD!

San Fran - the new standard for GREEN!

Going green is the only way to go these days. If we don't I am sure you are all aware of what could happen if we don't make a change. My mother actually sent me a link to an article about a hotel in San Francisco which has set the new standard for "green" hotels across the country. I hope that all hotels across the world will catch on to the green trend and together we can all create a healthier, happier planet. Below is a snippit from "S.F. Hotel Triton Named State Model For Conservation: Green Lodging Program encourages travelers to choose ‘eco chic’"

Next time you take a trip for business or leisure, think about more than whether or not your hotel has a workout room and a breakfast buffet-choose a lodging that puts a priority on taking good care of you and the environment. That’s the message of a new California Integrated Waste Management Board initiative designed to encourage travelers to stay at “green hotels,” hospitality establishments that save energy, water, and resources, and divert waste

“Recycling cans, bottles, and plastic bags is commendable-but it doesn’t go far enough,” “The hospitality industry is a vital partner in our efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our day-to-day business operations and the Hotel Triton’s outstanding conservation efforts prove they are committed to being good stewards of the environment and the economy.”

A model of “eco chic” for its commitment to reducing energy and water consumption, as well as implementing numerous waste reduction practices and emphasizing organic materials, the Hotel Triton (www.hoteltriton.com) recycles 60 percent of its waste and exemplifies what it takes to be named to the State’s new Green Lodging Program list.

“Patronizing hotels that go above and beyond for the environment is something we hope every traveler in California will consider,” said Board Member Michael Paparian. “The Hotel Triton is a model Green Lodging facility and we appreciate their voluntary efforts to help California reach zero waste.”

To finish this article, visit CA.gov