This is all too taxing for me. But apparently not enough for Mayor Dixon and the city of Baltimore. Did you catch this story yesterday about how the city is suing online travel sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia and Hotels.com - some of my favorites - for $6 million in hotel taxes?

The lawsuit says the firms didn't pay up on the room taxes but instead pocketed that money. Here's the deal: the travel sites charge you and me one price, but they pay the hotels a lower negotiated price and then they keep the difference. The sites only pay taxes on that negotiated room price - not on the full amount they collect from Joe Traveler. A few of these cases already have been tossed by judges so I don't know about the mayor's chances. Plus I already think hotel and tourist taxes are, like, outta this world. A 15 percent tax for just breathing your air for a few days?

Listen, as much as I want safe streets, solid schools and lovely landscaping in Baltimore, I'm on the side of the travel sites since they're on my side. Sorta. If they have to pay more taxes, it won't hurt them. No. I'm telling you it will come out of my vacation slush fund (yours too) and that's just not right. And then next thing you know, we'll be paying taxes on Amazon.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

I've found there are two types of people: those who love B&Bs and those who have never stayed at a B&B. I especially enjoy them in big cities where the hotels are so expensive and impersonal or small towns where the only other option would be a chain motel.

One of my favorite B&Bs used to be the Four Sisters Inns, a group of B&Bs along the California coast. Today, I think they call themselves "boutique inns," but when I visited years ago they were definitely B&Bs.

BedandBreakfast.com has the inside scoop on B&Bs here and around the globe. You can find reviews, recipes, rates and even B&Bs up for sale. The Web site recently released their annual awards and one of the winners was The Inn at Peralynna Manor, a local B&B in Columbia. They were voted as having the "Best Beds." Other winners in the "Best of the Mid-Atlantic" included My Fair Lady B&B in Crisfield; Brickhouse Inn and The Brafferton Inn, both in Gettysburg; and Cordials B&B in New Hope, Pa; and the John F. Craig House in Cape May.

(Photo of a room at The Inn at Peralynna by Sun Photographer Doug Kapustin) 

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Nine hotels in Maryland have been awarded the AAA Four Diamond rating for 2009. The rating is the highest the second highest given by the auto club, which began its Diamond rating system for lodging in 1977. Criteria include cleanliness, ambiance, amenities and service. The awards will be presented tomorrow at the Maryland Governor's Tourism Industry Conference.

Below is the list of the hotels. While I haven't stayed at any of these locations, I have had lunch or dinner at a few, so I've seen the hotel lobby, but otherwise can't add any shine to the diamond rating.

Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

Hilton Suites Ocean City Oceanfront

Hyatt Regency Baltimore

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina (Cambridge)

InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore

Loews Annapolis Hotel

Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel

Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort (Cumberland)

Photo of Rocky Gap Resort pool by Sun Photographer Doug Kapustin

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If you signed up for the $19.28 promo from Leading Hotels of the World that went seriously awry today, here's a second chance. Travelers who registered for the offer should have received an email this afternoon with a form that will allow you to make your hotel room request. You must email the completed form back to them between 8 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. tomorrow. There's no guarantee the room request will be honored, of course, but I'll be taking my chances.

UPDATE: A second email dropped into my box after 9:30 pm from the hotel group's CEO. It basically said the offer is postponed again. Sigh. 

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 5:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Not sure what will happen, but I did finally get into the Leading Hotels of the World site. Here's what it says: "Due to the overwhelming number of consumers participating in this promotion. We regret to inform you due to technical difficulties beyond our control the 1928 promotion has been suspended indefintely." (yes, they had a typo)

Shouldn't they have expected that during these tough economic times that just about any traveler would want dibs on a hotel room for less than 20 bucks? Especially a hotel room with nice sheets. Not sure what "suspended" means - maybe they'll let people who registered try again. Hope so.

UPDATE: Leading Hotels has apologized for this morning's fiasco and will be offering another deal to those who registered with the site.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Well, I knew it sounded like a dream. The Leading Hotels of the World promotion offering luxury stays at $19.28 a night got underway at 8 a.m. this morning. For a mere 80 minutes, travelers could book a maximum of two nights if they had registered in advance. But when I woke up this morning, I could not get into their Web site to make my reservation. I have broadband and a Mac, but the clock just kept spinning. Maybe the site went down. I'll have to check on that.

I wasn't even planning to go that far - just to the Alex Hotel in New York, which normally goes for about $400 a night. So my dreams have been dashed, but surely someone got in for that rate, right? Let me know if you did, so I don't feel like such a sucker.

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The swank, new downtown Hilton checked in its first guests earlier today. The general manager says the hotel is one-third booked for this weekend. There's a "grand opening" special of $199 a night if you don't feel like cleaning out the spare bedroom for the relatives. The hotel says the special is only good till Sept. 7 and requires advance booking, but I found similar rates through October on their Web site.

While $199 doesn't seem like a deal, it is a brand-spanking new hotel with never-before-slept-in beds and a view of Camden Yards. If you can't swing, head for the 90-seat bar or the Diamond Tavern, a new sports-theme restaurant, which are both now open.

(Photo: Amy Davis, Sun Photographer) 

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

I really should resist. Especially when I see words like "beary best." But, alas, I am weak. So here goes: In honor of the Olympics, Embassy Suites has introduced a traveling stuffed panda, Hugo P. Grant, available as a limited edition from Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Here's the deal: make a reservation of at least one night at Embassy Suites using code PBP and you get two -- count em -- two USOC panda bears at check-in. Take the bears on your trip and email a pix of either of them enjoying summer fun to Hugo.P.Grant@gmail.com. Hugo has his own Facebook page where the pix can be viewed by any and all who make friends with him. 

Some of the money from the panda promotion goes to help young athletes. That's beary nice.

(Photo: Courtesy of Embassy Suites)

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

In less than a month, Hilton opens its first downtown Baltimore hotel. There's a big unveiling there today where officials will offer a peek at the interior. Anyone's who's been to an Orioles game at Camden Yards recently, has has a bird's-eye view of the exterior. It's the one blocking the view of the Bromo Seltzer Tower.

The hotel is not just a hotel. It's a $300 million dollar dream project built by the city. With 757 rooms plus 20 luxury suites, some with balconies, it's a small city itself. Officials say the hotel, which is next to the Baltimore Convention Center, will make the city more competitive for group meetings. Already about 100 groups have pledged to bring their conventions to Baltimore.

The hotel is accepting reservations for arrivals beginning Aug. 22. Let's just hope the opening goes more smoothly here than it did for the Gaylord Resort at the National Harbor in April, when a few field mice checked in and left some of the first guests with a creepy feeling.

(Photo: Amy Davis, Sun Staff Photographer) 

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Ewww. I missed this story about a Virginia motel that had some very unwelcome guests. Snakes! On a bed! Turns out a local snake owner was trying to sell-off a few of his slithering exotic pals, but somehow the deal fell through so he decided to stash the snakes at the Hy-Way Motel in Fairfax. A kind of snake-cation.

All I can say is check under the hotel bed, people. Always check.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If you love country music does that mean you also love to stay at Red Roof Inn? If not, the hotel is putting a lot of effort into attracting country music fans with a new Web site and a new partnership with several country stars like Phil Vassar.

Vassar, who performs tonight at Pier Six Pavilion, is supposedly having Red Roof fill all his travel needs as he tours across the country. (So If anyone sees him at the Harbor Court Hotel, let me know.)

The web site has videos, photos and a short film about Vassar. Fans who stay at a Red Roof Inn can request a wake-up call featuring a recording by the country music star.

Vassar will also be making guest appearances at select Red Roofs. There's one nearby on Charles Street, so maybe his fans will be in for a surprise.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Starwood Hotels & Resorts just opened its first eco-friendly hotel in Lexington, Mass., just outside of Boston. The hotel, called Element, launches a brand that promises to be inspired by nature with a smart design concept, lots of natural light and tranquil water features. Next spring, Starwood plans to open Element at Arundel Mills and then a second one at BWI Marshall Airport.

The hotel is using green building techniques, including lots of water-efficient fixtures, energy-efficient systems, in-room recycling and eco-friendly carpets and paints. Instead of paper "do not disturb" signs, Element uses a magnet that you can attach to your door. And while guests driving hybrid cars receive priority parking, the hotel also offers complimentary bikes for guests.

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Discount hotel chain Motel 6 / Studio 6 is offering guests wireless Internet access for $2.99 per 24-hour period. I haven't stayed at a Motel 6 in like, ever, but this kind of pricing moves them up several notches in my book. During my recent stay at Marriott I paid $12.99 for in-room access to the Internet and it wasn't even wireless.

Now, nothing beats free Wi-fi, which a lot of hotels offer. But how many of them offer room rates starting around $45.99?

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We're on a family visit, but sometimes it's nice to stay a little further away. On this visit, we're parked at the Marriott. (Nice digs, but no free wireless.)

A convention is also in progress at the hotel, which is not unusual. However, the group itself is a bit unnerving. It's a meeting of morticians. While I did enjoy watching "Six Feet Under," I'm not comfortable with those who see dead poeple on a regular basis.

 
Oh, and by the way, did I mention the casket giveaway? Any takers?

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If you scored free rooms at Harrah's new Waterfront Tower hotel in Atlantic City, you might want to check out the he said/she said reviews of the hotel over at HotelChatter.com. The Web site sent two editors from New York on the freebie junket to get the inside scoop.

The Baltimore overnight is scheduled for next week. If you make it, please drop me a line and let me know how it was. It's free, so it can't be that bad. Or can it?

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The folks over at Gridskipper pointed me to this splashy piece in Portfolio magazine about a hotel pool boom.

Nothing says vacation like a cerulean blue pool under a cloudless blue sky. And hoteliers know this. That's why they're pouring cash into huge pits of sparkling, cool water.

From Miami to Atlantic City, N.J., to Vegas, the pools are getting bigger, better and wetter. Pool concierges. Suites with private pools. Adults-only pools.

The magazine also rates the best hotel pools, including Harrah's Resorts new Waterfront Tower hotel in Atlantic City, which gave away free rooms to folks in Baltimore last week. If you scored one of those rooms, don't forget to take a dip in the pool.

(Photo: Courtesy Harrah's Resorts)

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Thinking about hopping in your car and just goin this summer? Motel 6 thinks you are. They're launched a new travel planning Web site, goin6.com, which would be a perfect stop for road trippers if anybody was actually going to hit the road this summer.

With gas at four bucks a gallon -- could be more by July -- even the hardcore roadsters will have second thoughts. Still, this site is fun and interactive and a great planning tool for a road trip, from a national parks tour to a jazz journey. Well, maybe next year.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Brangelina may be busy building a family but that hasn't kept Brad Pitt from thinking about building other stuff - like a hotel. A hat tip to hotelchatter.com which led us to the announcement from Pitt that he will be designing an America-themed hotel and resort in Dubai. 

The 800-room hotel will, of course, have environmentally friendly features but also "embrace my career in entertainment," according to the actor. I can see it now: an ornate spa based on Troy or a nightclub called Fight Club or a seafood restaurant based on Ocean's Eleven. But I hope he forgets about 12 Monkeys. I know I have. Sorry Baltimore.

Listen, I don't need to know too many details. If Brad Pitt builds it, people will come from all over. The paparazzi, at least, will need to book a few rooms.

(Photo: Assoc