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The Chicago Palomar Does It Again. Excellence.
My first trip in 2013 involved the Chicago Palomar. They were a superb way to start the year, setting the bar very high indeed. And they are still superb today. I look forward to many visits in the...
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Grant Street Inn, Bloomington, IN in the Spring
I’ve been here in the Fall and at the height of Spring. It’s always beautiful in Bloomington. Grant Street Inn in Spring The Grant Street Inn is expanding. They even moved the front desk around (watch...
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Conrad Hotel Indianapolis: The Highest Link in the Chain
Hiltons? You can have them all. But if you have to come to Indy, you might as well stay at the Conrad. It’s the highest most five-star link in the Hilton family, and it has everything required by the...
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70 Park Beats Marriott to Death in NYC
After our pathetic week trapped at the Sawgrass Marriott a quick trip to NY was just the antidote we needed. Ah Kimpton. Get this, the staff is well trained and helpful! They seem to like their jobs in...
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Trapped in the late 70s: Bell Tower Hotel in Ann Arbor Michigan
I don’t know what it is about academia and academic towns, but the hotels in the academia sphere appear to be trapped in the late 70s. (For example, see State College, Palo Alto, Bloomington, and Ann...
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Heuristics for Finding a Superior Hotel: Glass Showers and Superior Mixology
Some of us travel way too much. When our friends ask us where they should stay in a particular city on planet Earth we actually have an answer. This blog exists for my friends (though since the early...
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Palomar DC Does its Wonky Thing
Things can be a bit chunky at the Palomar DC—sometimes hot, sometimes not—just like the political situation in this city. After my last whirlwind stay here, Hotel Manager Stephane Vogel noticed and...
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The Onyx in Boston: I sense a disturbance in the force
It was an early start in Canada at 5am, but Air Canada and Global Entry conspired to make for an easy trip. The Onyx still has a truly phenomenal staff. Friendly, interested, engaging, and fun; even...
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Cowper Inn Palo Alto: Home in Silicon Valley
This go ’round at the Cowper is much better than my previous visit. More time to relax; a better room (number 31); some time to visit with Joji. Here is the spectacular mission style living room where...
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Like, Hilton, still, like sucks in Wilmington, NC
The epitome of plastic showers can be found at the Hilton, which, like still sucks still. Like Paris would never, like, stay here. Eeeeew. Grody. (All it has done since last year is age a year.) Here’s...
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More Light at the Palomar DC
Maybe it’s the weather? But for whatever reason, room 739 is bright and beautiful this afternoon at the Palomar in Washington DC. Steph Vogel, the GM had me all set up again though I believe I arrived...
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Not So Special in the Big City Huh? 70Park, NY
Maybe the awful United express flight up here in a creaky old expressjet CRJ200 was foreshadowing of some sort? In any case, there is nothing quite like New York City to disavow you of your ego! Even...
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Super Chefs: NYC vs Frederick, MD
Last time we did an informal foodie experimental test set, Volt won hands down. This iteration, we find Volt neck and neck with Annisa up to the finish line where the crack staff at Volt pulls of a win...
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Three Strikes for the Conrad in Indianapolis: Bye Bye Hilton
This hotel is very nice, especially if you are a lady of a certain age. But they have fatal flaws. Lets list them just for fun. FLAW 1: They apparently do not have a computer. So they have no idea that...
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I am Not a Number, I am a Free Man: Not Puttin’ on the Ritz Carlton Atlanta
If you are a careful reader of noplasticshowers, you may recall the very first blog entry ever (October 21, 2009). Way back when! What were we whining about then? A Marriott property foist on us by the...
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Eventi, NY, NY
A very quick trip up to NY was once again hijacked by barman bob at Lantern’s Keep. Holy cow, bob is trying to kill me (and all of my friends)! Because of bob, the amenity left by the crack staff at...
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He’s Back: Joe Takes the Reigns at Hotel Marlowe (Boston)
Long ago in a galaxy far far away Joe Capalbo set the Kimpton hook by paying attention. Since that time, Joe has moved up the food chain, running the Onyx across town, and recently coming back as the...
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Receding Tide or Rising Expectations? College Hotel (Amsterdam) Ages
Maybe we here at NPS are getting even more spoiled? Or maybe hotel standards are rising? Probably both. Whatever it is, the College Hotel seems to be fraying around the edges. What used to be a quirky...
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Food, Drink and Art in Paris
Now for the fun part. I’ll try to forget that I am trapped at yet another crappy Marriott hotel (this seems to be happening too often this year, but at least this time it’s free). That should be easy...
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The Gorgeous Umstead Hotel in Cary, NC
Yes, we all know that CARY is an acronym for “containment area for relocated Yankees,” but I guess the northern invaders needed a nice place to stay?! Or maybe it was the SAS corporation?! Whatever the...
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