Nobu Hotel – Palo Alto

Nobu Hotel – Palo Alto
Nobu- Palo Alto Hotel
Minimal Luxe decor

Palo Alto Hotels never conveyed luxury to me until I had a chance to visit the newly remodeled Nobu Hotel in Palo Alto. I fell in love with the minimal Japanese design and the attentiveness from the friendly staff. The hotel is ideally situated in downtown Palo Alto, with lots of restaurants and shopping within walking distance. The notable Nobu Restaurant  is conveniently downstairs.

This 73-room Palo Alto hotel is the perfect home base if you are visiting Silicon Valley. The hotel amenities reflect the tech-mind of Silicon Valley with seamless integrations Alexa, with multiple voice commands including light and shade control, 82- inch television. My favorite is the state of the art TOTO washlet bidet.

One of my favorite amenities of the hotel was the Gym, I rarely use hotel gyms, but the gym at Nobu provides Peloton bikes with access to hundreds on online interactive classes, it was hard to leave the gym with this feature

We are all familiar with Nobu, the restaurant and I loved that all you had to do was take the elevator down and you have access to some seriously delicious eats. One perk of being a Nobu hotel guest is that you get priority reservations at the restaurant.

Beyond the beautiful decor and amenities, it is the people of Nobu that makes this such a special place. You feel at home with the warm hospitality from all of the staff. The staff recommended many wonderful things to do in the area. I particularly loved a book store one block down from the hotel.

If visiting the Bay Area, I would surely return to this special hotel Palo Alto Hotel

Please note that the hotel is still undergoing construction and most rooms are expected to be completed soon.

NOBU HOTEL:
Address: 180 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone(650) 666-331
https://paloalto.nobuhotels.com/

7 Reasons to Fall in Love With Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe

7 Reasons to Fall in Love With  Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe

Nested at the top of its own private road in North Lake Tahoe, the Ritz-Carlton feels like you’ve been transported to a castle in the Alps.  Ritz- Carlton is the best place to stay if you want to re-charge over a long weekend or take a full week of skiing and frolicking in the snow.

I was lucky enough to visit The Ritz after a strong storm left fresh powder in the area.  From the moment we drove up to the front, from the time we checked out, their staff was phenomenal. Friendly, informative, & detail-oriented.

 

 

With endless activities on the property you never have to leave the property, so I leave you with my :

7 Must- Do’s at the Ritz Carlton- Lake Tahoe

1.  Snowboarding lessons

I am a novice when it comes to winter sports, so getting out of my comfort zone any signing up for a snowboarding class what nerve wrecking to say the least.  All I could imagine was falling over and over.  I pushed through my fears and signed up for the private classes at the Burton Academy.  The entire process was easy and convenient.  A day before my class I got fitted for my snowboard boot and helmet at True North.

The day of the class my instructor was waiting for me to take me to the Burton Academy via a snowmobile. The instructor was VERY patient with me I fell about 100 times and he would not let me give up.  I ended the lesson feeling proud of myself and with 1000% more snowboarding knowledge than when I began.  THANK goodness for the magic carpet which made going back up the bunny slopes a breeze.

 

2. Apres Ski, at the Living Room

Nothing better after a long day on the slopes than to relax with friends, delicious bites and exquisite drinks.   The Living Room at the lobby level of the Ritz offers a relaxed place to enjoy the warmth of the fireplaces, the sweeping views and delicious food and drinks.

 

3. Dinner at Manzanita Bar

Top notch dinner service in an upscale setting.  We ordered family style and portions were generous and beautifully presented.  Go in there before your reservation to enjoy a cocktail at the bar.

 

4. Marshmology

Bring out the kids or bring out the kid in you to the Ritz’s Marshology, a fun hands-on experience where you get to roast marshmallows on a stick and get sticky while devouring your creations. The program takes place nightly by the fire pits and free for all Ritz Carlton guests.

 

5. Lake Club

The stunning lakeside property is only a year old and is opened year round.  In the winter for small private events, and in the summer for a fun vacation house vibe. During the summer expect to enjoy water sports, BBQ drinks and a lot of relaxation. The sunsets from the club are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in Lake Tahoe.

6. Gondola Ride

Make sure to take the free ride on the gondolas that connect the Ritz to the village.  The view on the gondolas is breathtaking so get your cameras and phones ready to snap the perfect scenic photo.  The village offers shopping and some additional dining options.

7. Spa

The perfect way to rejuvenate yourself after a long day on the slopes, the Spa offers many treatments and massage that make you feel pampered.  Make sure to arrive earlier than your appointment to take advantage of the spa amenities, such as their eucalyptus steam room and heated lap pool with incredible. view of the slopes.  I opted for the 1 hr relaxation massage.  My massage therapist, Michael was great and would highly recommend him.

There are way too many amenities at the Ritz to even mention, but whatever you decide to do I am sure you will have a great time, even if it’s just relaxing and taking in the views. Everyone from the valets to the masseuse and housekeeper is genuinely dedicated to making your stay unforgettable.  I can’t wait to visit again!!

 

 

 

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/lake-tahoe .

Las Alcobas

I visited Las Alcobas Napa Valley during the Holiday season, which made my visit especially magical.  I visited the property, with a friend, specifically to dine at Acacia House by Chris Cosentino.  From the moment we arrived at the property I knew that I was going to fall in love.   The staff here has gone above and beyond at every step to provide luxury service that one would expect from a luxury hotel.  I was also lucky enough to indulge in a unique spa experience at Atrio spa.

This is the perfect romantic getaway or to catchup with girlfriends. I am excited to go back.

 

The pool area boasts heated pool, fire pits and very comfortable seating to lounge it.  I can see myself drinking many glasses of bubbly here while enjoying the views of the vineyards.

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Acacia House

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Enjoyed one of the best brunches of 2017 at Acacia House by the incomparable Chef Chris Cosentino.

 

Some highlights were:

HERBtonic: apple, basil, cilantro, cucumber, spinach, ginger juice

Turmeric Shot: Fresh turmeric root

Oranges & Dates: Fresh Oranges serves with dates, pistachios and mint

Bananas & almonds: almond butter, coconut, coco nibs and tonka bean

Buttermilk buckwheat pancakes served with mascarpone,  fruit and maple syrup

Croissant milk toast: croissant bread pudding French toast, vanilla and whipped mascarpone.  This blew my mind, the BEST French toast  I’ve had and I am picky when it comes to French toast

Purgatory: baked eggs, savory spicy tomato sauce, olives and fresh flat bread

Chilaquiles: enough said

 

Atrio Spa

Atrio is a aroma driven spa, my experience started with a customized blend of essential oils using a proprietary technique to find the best scent for me.  This blend was later used on me in the massage room.

The massage was magical, I left feeling renewed. Can’t recommend the spa enough.

 

Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Napa Valley

1915 Main Street, St. Helena, CA, 94574, United States

 

Images copyright © Teresa Barajas and may not be copied, printed, reproduced, or used in any form without permission