HOTELS |

NOAH GREENBERG’S new website on youth hostel and celebrating the 100 year history of Youth Hostels…

January 26, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

The first permanent hostel, Alenta Castle in Germany…

(Left: Noah Greenberg) Noah Greenberg is a senior at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has come up with an excellent website for making youth hostel reservations: hostels.findthebest.com.

Noah is an expert on this famous alternative style of accommodations dating back to 1909. Following a trip to Australia and Thailand this past summer, he realized how much of a pain booking hostels can be and created his website for easy bookings.

“You never know what comes with the hostel, and it takes forever to find one that meets your needs,” Noah said in promoting his new website. “In an attempt to make the hostel booking process less of a drag, I’ve recently built a hostel comparison, found at hostels.findthebest.com – which lets you search through over 14k hostels by features & amenities, price per person, location, and a whole lot more.”

Please take a look at Noah’s website for making reservations and discovering the world of hostels. They are for all ages. Noah’s website hostels.findthebest.com is a great way for travelers to research hostels.

Click here to compare and find hostels worldwide.

Social History: The Greenbrier, America’s Resort.

July 6, 2011 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Social History: The Greenbrier, America’s Resort. Timeless traditions. Unforgettable experiences.

Over two centuries ago, in fact, more than 230 years, in a valley nestled within the eternal majesty of the Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a most extraordinary happening occurred – we pampered our first guests. And from that moment, until today, when you enter our grounds you become part of a haven rooted in hospitality and luxury. Welcome to The Greenbrier Resort – America’s Resort since 1778.

Reserve your place in our history today.-where experiences are timeless and memories last forever.

THE HISTORY OF THE GREENBRIER

ORIGINS

The story of The Greenbrier begins at the sulphur water spring that remains the center of the resort property. It issues forth below the green dome of the white-columned Springhouse that serves as The Greenbrier’s symbol. Since 1778, people have come to “take the waters” to restore their health. In the 19th century, visitors drank and bathed in the sulphur water to cure everything from rheumatism to an upset stomach. Because of the water’s draw, the resort was known as White Sulphur Springs.

THE FIRST HEYDAY

Due to its isolated location-along what was then the nation’s western frontier-development proceeded slowly until settlers carved a viable stagecoach route through the densely forested mountains. In the 1830s the resort entered its first period of prominence as politicians, judges, editors, lawyers, diplomats, ministers, planters and merchants-primarily from the southern states-annually congregated at the “village in the wilderness”. They did so only in the summer months because the 2,000 foot elevation offered relief from the heat and humidity down in the lowlands. The resort originally consisted only of cottages and many-for example, Paradise Row, Alabama Row, and Baltimore Row-still stand today. Perhaps the most historic is the Presidents’ Cottage Museum. Before the Civil War, five sitting presidents stayed there demonstrating the resort’s reputation as the favored gathering place for the nation’s most influential and powerful families.

White Sulphur Springs’ well-established status as America’s most fashionable social resort led to the construction of the first large hotel in 1858. It was officially named the Grand Central Hotel, but known to long-time patrons as the Old White. This hotel boasted three stories of porches to catch summer breezes and ample space to promenade one’s stylish attire.

THE RITZ-CARLTON in BERLIN…

December 18, 2010 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

The Ritz-Carlton Berlin makes our list of top hotels – for the second time. This terrific Berlin landmark joins our list of great world hotels. From grand and boutique to old or modern – hotels that all share an elegant, even sometimes hip, link to social history and the travel past.

“Never say no when a client asks for something, even if it is the moon. You can always try, and anyhow there is plenty of time afterwards to explain that it was not possible.”

César Ritz (23 February 1850 – 24 October 1918) the famous Swiss hotelier and founder of several hotels, most famously the Hôtel Ritz, in Paris and The Ritz Hotel in London. His nickname was “king of hoteliers, and hotelier to kings,” and it is from his name and that of his hotels that the term ritzy derives. His legacy lives on with the Ritz-Carlton Hotels Chain.

Merry Christmas from Cruising The Past —- Here is our choice for the best hotel in Berlin – the Ritz Carlton.

The wonderful space is modern, deluxe, but the history of the area is extensive. It’s a luxury hotel in central Berlin like no other.

Celebrating a Berlin New Year, we are staying at the Ritz-Carlton. This is a great way to relieve the grand manner of five star service once found on the great German trans-Atlantic liners… operated by North German Lloyd and the Hamburg-America Line.

Berlin’s Ritz-Carlton is under the superb and meticulous direction of General Manager Robert Petrovic. This deluxe hotel is located near what was formerly a section of The Berlin Wall. It is in the center of the new Berlin. It is also the choice of world famous celebrities. The five star plus hotel offers 303 rooms, 40 suites, and The Ritz-Carlton Apartment as well as The Ritz-Carlton Club. Besides providing the utmost in comfort – the Ritz offers the kind of elegant service and cuisine that is so rare today. Trip Advisor gives the hotel a very high rating – one of the best in Berlin.

The staff exhibits the service once found in the great palace hotels of Europe and the fabulous Trans-Atlantic German liners of the 1930s. The TS Bremen and TS Europa were Germany’s fabulous ocean liners built for the Norddeutscher Lloyd line (NDL) in 1929 for the transatlantic passenger service. These fabulous German ships offered great service from New York to Europe. They also featured a unique a la carte restaurants operated by César Ritz.

A link to the elegance of the past: 2010 Choice for one of the Best Small Hotel in Paris: the Renaissance Vendome

January 6, 2010 By Michael L. Grace

A link to the elegance of the past – our 2010 choice and review for one of the best boutique hotels in Paris – the Renaissance Vendome Hotel.

Video of Paris – during the 1920s.

One can never capture the feeling of cruising the past in most hotels today. That chic traveling public is gone. Clients arriving from a trans-Atlantic crossing on the France or United States are history. No one travels with maids and trunks today. One barely hopes your baggage (and the plane) makes it to your destination – except of course when flying in your own jet.

So in all great cities the experienced traveler is always looking for that special small hotel.

The Renaissance Paris Vendome combines many of those values – with a very up to date modern atmosphere.

It is one of the top small hotels in Paris and beautifully run by Marriott’s Renaissance Group. What I like about Marriott is that they are one of the best hotel chains operating. They don’t forget details no matter where you are visiting – and their benefits club is operating at the highest level.

The Vendome’s excellent Directeur Genereral is Anne Legrand and David Volet is the very knowledgeable Cheif Concierge.

2010 CHOICE FOR BEST HOTEL IN BERLIN – THE RITZ-CARLTON.

January 1, 2010 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

“Never say no when a client asks for something, even if it is the moon. You can always try, and anyhow there is plenty of time afterwards to explain that it was not possible.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2010 Choice: The best hotel in Berlin: the Ritz-Carlton.

Happy New Year from Cruising The Past —- We begin 2010 by confirming our choice for the best hotel in Berlin – the Ritz Carlton.

Great Hotels and Dining Rooms – The Pump Room in Chicago’s Ambassador East Hotel

December 1, 2009 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

The Pump Room – 1950s…

Cruising The Past – Social and Travel History – THE PUMP ROOM – History of The Pump Room and Ambassador East Hotel Chicago.

The Pump Room – 1960s…

When Ernie Byfield opened The Pump Room in The Ambassador East Hotel on October 1, 1938, he undoubtedly had little idea that he was beginning an enterprise that would still be thriving to this day. Today, The Pump Room remains a magnet for movie stars and celebrities as well as a highly-acclaimed restaurant and Chicago landmark.

Social History: HOTEL ADLON Kempinski – the finest hotel in BERLIN. One of the great hotels of the world. Berlin was a port of call by train in 1929 — after sailing from New York to Germany aboard the SS BREMEN.

January 27, 2009 By Michael L. Grace

great youTUBE video of Berlin in 1929 with views for the Hotel Adlon…

Sailing in the 1920s to Germany from New York on the SS Bremen was very popular. Upon arrival, tourists enjoyed a quick train ride from Hamburg to Berlin and then accommodations at the world famous Adlon Hotel in Europe’s favorite destination in the 1920s.

Hotel Adlon in 1928…

Located in the very heart of Berlin, right by the Brandenburg Gate and in the immediate vicinity of the Reichstag, which houses the German Parliament, one of the world’s most illustrious luxury hotels in all its majestic splendor cordially welcomes its guests: not only is the Hotel Adlon a legend in its own time, it was – just like the famous Pariser Platz on which it is built – a witness of Germany’s eventful and turbulent history of the 20th century.

SS Bremen leaving New York in the 1930s…

When the Adlon was opened for the first time in 1907, the builder and visionary Lorenz Adlon gladly fulfilled the wish of Wilhelm II, who was the German emperor at that time and had urgently wanted a stately hotel in his town of residence. Due to the Hotel’s unparalleled luxuries and its unique equipment of the highest standards of technology, political leaders and celebrities soon made the Hotel Adlon their hotel of choice in Germany.

College students heading to Berlin and the Hotel Adlon having sailed from New York to Hamburg on the SS Bremen…

The Adlon was one of the most famous hotels in Europe between the two World Wars and hosted celebrities including Louise Brooks, Charlie Chaplin, Herbert Hoover, Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich.

It was also a favourite hangout of journalists, being located in the heart of the government quarter next to the British Embassy, on the same square as the French and American Embassies and only blocks from the Chancellery and other government ministries.

Luckily, the Hotel survived the Second World War without any major damage.

In 1945, however, a devastating fire raged and almost entirely destroyed the magnificent building. In accordance with a resolution made by the GDR’s National Council of Defense, the surviving wing of the building was demolished in 1984.

Hotel Adlon today…

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of Germany, the people in the reunified city of Berlin soon refused to be without their legendary hotel, and a few years later, in 1997, Roman Herzog, who was then the president of the Federal Republic of Germany, reopened the new Hotel Adlon in a splendid ceremony. Since that day the truly “best hotel in town” has rejoiced in its past and present splendor and fame.

Contact the Hotel Adlon by clicking here.