Residence Inn San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, CA

A few months ago, I made use of some airline miles to visit San Juan Capistrano, CA where I got to see one of my favorite musicians perform at The Coach House. I didn't want to deal with driving, so I needed a hotel near the venue. The Residence Inn San Juan Capistrano fit the bill as it's less than a mile away. I'm glad the hotel was within walking distance because, although some other online reviews mentioned a hotel shuttle, this Residence Inn does not have one.

My king suite was huge. The kitchenette included service for four along with a stovetop, microwave, coffee pot, full-size refrigerator/freezer, sink, and dishwasher with a detergent pack. A note in the room indicated that for those on an extended stay, the suite attendant would run the dishwasher when "sufficiently full" and change the bedding twice a week. There was also a selection of coffee and tea in the room.

The living area, which has a couch that pulls out for an additional bed, had a pretty good separation from the bed and bathroom. The one TV was on a lazy susan so it could swivel to be viewed from all parts of the room.

In the bedroom/bathroom area, I noted the standard shampoo, conditioner, and soap along with a hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and full-length mirror on the bathroom door. One disappointment was that the alarm clock had a charging dock only compatible with the iPhone 4S and older; I recommend that hotels start updating soon. Fortunately, there were plenty of outlets.

One of my favorite parts of this pet-friendly hotel was the door sign to notify housekeeping about a pet being in the room. Although I wasn't traveling with my cat this time, it's been inconvenient in the past to not be able to leave her in the room alone because it violated the hotel's policy. Since Residence Inns are often used for long-term stays this perk is awesome.

A number of reviews mention noise from the train which does go by quite often sounding the horn. I can definitely see where it would be bothersome for people who turn in early. The concert wrapped up a little before 11pm and I didn't hear the train at all once I was in for the night. Upon arriving back at the hotel, I was surprised to find the lobby door locked. As I fumbled through my purse to find my room card to unlock the door, the man at the front desk triggered the door open button for me.

In the morning I indulged in the complimentary breakfast. There was a nice selection of hot dishes like oatmeal and waffles plus fruit, yogurt, and cold cereal.

I took my meal up to my room to eat on the table there, but there's ample seating in the lobby as well as fireplace to enjoy.

The lobby also has two computers available to use.

Another thing to note is that the hotel has "Social Hour" Monday to Wednesday nights; my stay started on Thursday, so I didn't have the opportunity to see what that entailed (the website mentions free beer and wine). I assume that during good weather, "Social Hour" takes place by the nice outdoor barbecue that's available for guests.

The outdoor amenities also include a pool and tennis courts.

There's also a gym, which might be nice for longer term guests, but I didn't check it out. As for the WiFi, the speed was great and I had no issues with the connection.

Minute Suites at DFW Airport

I'd hoped to make use of a Minute Suite during my DFW layover on the way to Nashville as I'd taken the red eye from Phoenix, but they were all booked. On my back I had a long layover because I just wasn't sure if I could make the earlier flight (I would've with about 10 minutes to spare). I decided to see if a suite was available. Normally I wouldn't, but I was pretty wiped out and my Hilton Ascend card includes 10 free passes to Priority Pass lounges which Minute Suites is a part of. The woman working the desk let me know one would come available in 20 minutes. She took my name and number so I could wander, but I sat at the gate across from the location in Terminal A. She called at the appointed time and I was able to check in with my ID, my Priority Pass card, and a credit card (there's snacks and beverages in the room that, if consumed, will be charged to the card as well as any damages). It was heaven to lay down for an hour although the pleather couch was not the most cushy. The blanket was super soft though and stacking two of the three pillows (Two are decorative and the one meant for sleeping is covered with a disposable pillow case. There was another disposable case in the room as well.) made for an adequate one.

I was happy to be able to charge my phone and zone out with the TV as background noise. There's DirecTV or the ability to log on to your Netflix account. If one wants to get some work done, there's also a desk and chair. I could hear some muffled noise (I think it was airport announcements), but the room was otherwise quiet.

The Red Door Spa & Salon in Phoenix, AZ

Update: The Red Door Spa rebranded as Mynd in 2019, but then closed in 2020.

When spa week rolls around (in April and October), I’m always excited to take advantage of one or more of the $50 treatments. October 2017 saw only a few spas participating in the Phoenix area, so I ended up only receiving the de-stress body treatment at the Red Door Biltmore. It was my first visit to the spa which is located in the outdoor shopping mall that also houses Saks and Macy’s.

After being offered a choice of cucumber or lemon water, I was led past the front desk to the locker area which had all sorts of hair products (even brushes!) and perfumes to fix yourself up after your service.

The lockers had two hangers and although the space was longer than most spa lockers, it's not quite the length of a dress.

Once I’d changed into the very soft robe (my only complaint about the robe was that it didn’t have a pocket to store my glasses—I put them on the counter in the room), I headed to the relaxation lounge which had low lighting, plush chairs, and an assortment of current issue women’s magazines.

The wait wasn’t long before Michelle introduced herself and brought me to one of the treatment rooms. The de-stress treatment I had focuses on hydration (minus the face). It began with exfoliation via gloves, then a copious amount of olive oil was applied before I got wrapped up “to cook.” During that time, I was given a warm neck pillow (which I loved so much I purchased) along with a blissful scalp and shoulder massage.

On a return trip a few months later, I received a manicure. There’s a separate area for the hair and nail services, so this time I went straight to that section without a stop in the relaxation lounge. I was offered a selection of lemon water (always my pick), tea, and coffee. I also got to make use of that excellent warm neck pillow while my cuticles were soaked then trimmed, my hands were moisturized, and my nails were painted with Essie polish.

Old Town Trolley Tour in San Diego, CA

During my October trip to San Diego, I did the Old Town Trolley sightseeing tour. It’s an excellent way to learn a bit about San Diego while exploring a limited portion of the city. I hopped on the trolley at the Horton Plaza stop as soon as the tour got going in the morning. Ric was working at the Horton Plaza stop (tickets are available at that stop) and provided me with great information about how to navigate the stops. I highly recommend dropping a pin on your phone’s map app because while most of the stops that sell tickets are easy to find, some of the other stops aren’t as well-marked. Some of the drivers were more entertaining than others, but I learned much about San Diego’s history regardless of who was driving. I didn’t get off at every stop, but found plenty to do at the ones I did—Coronado, Balboa Park, Old Town Market (everyone has to get off there), and Embarcadero Marina. There was so much to do that I ended up using the trolley from its first pickup time at Horton Plaza all the way to the last run of the day.

On Coronado Island, I explored the Hotel del Coronado which has quite the history (including being where L. Frank Baum wrote a lot of his books). The beach there is beautiful. I'm now planning a return trip so I can stay at the hotel.

Balboa Park is home to the Museum of Man and California Tower. The tower was closed until 2015, but now visitors to the museum can buy an additional ticket to take the stairs almost to the top. It's well worth it for the spectacular view. (I’ve been to the San Diego Zoo previously, so I didn’t visit this time but it can be reached from this stop.)

At the Old Town Market stop, I walked over to Whaley House which is said to be the most haunted house in America though I didn't experience anything spooky.

My last stop on the trolley tour was the Embarcadero Marina where I walked along the waterfront and visited the Maritime Museum.

Given the cost of parking and gas, the Old Town Trolley tour is more than worth the cost. According to the website, the tour would last two hours if one does it without getting on and off.

Sofia Hotel in San Diego, CA

Walking into the Sofia Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp District, I was greeted by a statue called "That-a-Way" which was created by Seward Johnson. Upon walking through the sliding glass doors, I was immediately impressed by the lush look of the lobby—there are gorgeous couches and chairs that just call out to be sat in. Unfortunately, hotel guests don’t tend to spend much time in the lobby, especially when there’s no continental breakfast or happy hour provided. At the desk, I was informed of a $12.50/night charge for services. I was prepared for the charge because I’d read about it in reviews for the hotel, but was surprised to learn that tax is also charged making it $14.97/night. The check-in process was smooth until the clerk realized my credit card didn’t have raised numbers and a photocopy would be needed. It took more than a few minutes for the copy to be made by a second person working the desk. During that time, the woman checking me in offered a map of the Gaslamp District and circled the two locations I said I’d be going to. She didn’t know, however, that one location (the Balboa Theatre) was less than a mile away and advised that I arrange for transportation until I pointed out its location on the map. She then said she was new. After my card was finally returned, I rode one of the two elevators up to the fourth floor.

On the way to the room, I noted that old photos were hung in the halls with information about the hotel in the past. I paid for a standard room and that’s what I received. The room was small and cramped, with the armchair making one side of the bed inaccessible. Staying by myself, this wasn’t an issue, but couples would likely find it a problem. I moved the chair some just to test it out and found that it would be a very tight squeeze for a second person even with the chair pushed against the window. Each side of the bed has just one outlet though the side without the chair has an alarm clock that will charge the iPhone 4S and older.

The bathroom is also quite small with the sink in the entryway and the toilet and shower squeezed in on the other side of the door. Apparently because of the small space, the shower has only a half door. The lighting in both the toilet/shower and sink areas is very dim. It would’ve been difficult to try to shave my legs in that lighting (I did not attempt). There is a nod to the low lighting by the sink with the addition of a lit makeup mirror. Unfortunately, the mirror can only be adjusted horizontally so that I, at 5’3”, had to stand on my tip-toes to see. My guess is that the mirror would work for those 5’5”-5’7”.

The room has some nice touches like an orchid on the bathroom counter and a lavender sachet on the bed, but those things don’t make up for the lack of a security latch. To my horror, I discovered the housekeeping staff (and I would assume all other employee keycards) can override the door bolt. Fortunately, I was dressed and close to leaving when she entered the room, but I did not sleep easy that night. Also, after housekeeping came in at 8:15am with me in the room, no one ever returned. When the desk clerk asked how my stay was I mentioned this as well as the loudness of my neighbors on Friday night (they were quite, uh, enthusiastic about each other and I eventually called the desk to complain because it had gone on for over an hour), he removed the $14.97 service fee for one of the nights.

My travel plans did not allow me to take advantage of the yoga, walking tour, or available bicycles, but I did hope to indulge in a spa service; when I called for an appointment, I was told no one was available. I did give the WiFi a try and the speed was sufficient, but it didn’t appear secure so I only used it briefly. The best thing about the Sofia Hotel (other than the location) is the attached restaurant. Currant had delicious beignets for weekend brunch and an excellent happy hour. The waitstaff was incredibly attentive and accommodating. I highly recommend the beignets (especially with the lemon curd) and butter cake.

Tocasierra Spa & Salon in Phoenix, AZ

2014 was the year I moved halfway across the country and realized how little traveling I’d done. With a regular job affording only the standard vacation time, I don’t have many opportunities to explore but am doing my best to visit new cities. It’s been easiest to check out the southwest (my new home after leaving the northwest), but I’m working on plans for the east coast as well as some west coast cities I haven’t been to yet.

I live in Phoenix these days, so I’ve never stayed at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort but its proximity to my apartment makes it ideal for my family to stay at when they visit. On the first trip they (diamond members) were upgraded to a casita while the other trips have been stays in king suites. The suites are spacious, but lack a microwave. (There are a few restaurants on the property as well as within walking distance, so the hotel may not expect guests to want to warm up food in the room.) The casitas are more like homes with a full kitchen and living room separate from the upstairs bedroom(s). The casitas also have covered parking which is a huge bonus if one visits during one of the many hot weather months.

Resort guests have access to amenities like the River Ranch which features a lazy river, waterslide, and miniature golf.

While I’m not that familiar with the rooms, I’ve spent quite a bit of time at Tocasierra Spa and Salon which is the resort’s spa and fitness center. For guests, it might be a little inconvenient as it requires a walk across one or more parking lots (depending on where on the property your room is located) and there's no pool attached to Tocasierra (one must walk back to the part of the property where the rooms are). But the spa is wonderful.

I’ve experienced a number of services from facials to massages to pedicures (served up with a margarita for an extra $5 on Friday and Saturday evenings). Each service has been excellent, but I do particularly enjoy those margaritas.

It’s also where I have my hair cut and colored. There’s just one salon client at a time (unless you’re booked as a group), so you always get the full attention of the cosmetologist, Tracy.

If you're indulging in the spa services, there's a nice lounge area and plenty of lockers plus showers and a sauna. The gym has a variety of machines plus a daily schedule of classes including pilates, yoga, and zumba. There is an additional fee to use the gym.