Tag Archives: jetsetter.com

May 21, 2012 · 7:48 am

Chicago francophilia

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oh, France, je vous adore

i’ve always adored all things French. French food (YUM), French fashion (oh so chic), French language (sooo romantic), FRANCE! i could go on. so booking with the French hotel chain, Sofitel, for my Chicago stay would seem like an obvious thing to do.

French language - parfait

i’ve actually been a guest of Sofitel before – in Budapest – when i got stuck there during the Icelandic ash cloud debacle. (side note – it was tres fantastique and the staff couldn’t have been more accommodating during that ‘crisis’) BUT i’ll be honest, i don’t automatically think Sofitel when planning my trips – at least, that used to be the case. i came across this particular property via my absolute favorite travel flash-sale site – Jetsetter.com. if there could be a romance with a website – mine is with them! FIRST LOVE – TRUE LOVE! i trust Jetsetter’s carefully curated luxurious taste and feel we are completely aligned AND this is how i found myself booking with Sofitel Chicago. merci, Jetsetter, for all your help and trip tips!

silly lola should have remembered how chic the Sofitel brand was. Sofitel Chicago Water Tower did not let me down.

lola simply adored the tribute to Brigitte Bardot in the lobby.

beautiful Brigitte Bardot

the smartly dressed mannequins inspired by the actress.

Bardot inspired fashion - tres chic

the gorgeous flowers everywhere.

cheery yellow flowers all over

the divine Hermes toiletries in the room. the lovely, delicious macaroon treats given by the hotel as a welcome amenity. (how did they know j’adore macaroons!)

delightful delicious macaroons!

AND then there was the warm hospitality received by my travel blogging friends and me at Le Bar. they even stock my favorite rum at Le Bar and make a handcrafted dark & stormy – YUM! you know how lola loves her cocktails.

Le Bar dark & stormy

let’s just say, this hotel was nothing short of parfait! Sofitel Chicago Water Tower even gives lola the social media attention i absolutely endorse! tres bon manners all around.

au revoir, my French friend in the Windy City!

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May 20, 2011 · 4:17 pm

New Orleans – WHY is it called The Big Easy anyway?

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look at my bead bling!

riding a mardi gras float to tipitina's

talk about southern hospitality – WOW – New Orleaneans have their fair share. if anything will stick with me from this trip – it’s the warm welcome i received consistently while visiting NOLA – thank you! known as the Big Easy – New Orleans does have a laid back easy-going attitude & gentle pace of life. it made the charms of the city that much more charming. even the quintessential float ride with bead tossing & catching and free-flowing hurricanes didn’t seem trite amongst the street revelers and friendly locals cheering us on.

yes – there was devastation (80% of the city was under water during Katrina) but they are rebuilding toward a brighter future with a culturally rich past (at the current rate of rebuilding it will take 17 more years to fully recover). besides rolling up your sleeves and helping to rebuild – one of the best things we can do for New Orleans is be a frequent tourist & enjoy the wonderful place it continues to be.

one of the reasons i visited NOLA this trip was to attend compete’s digitalCMO summit – whose theme was ‘the connection project’. i enjoyed learning more about digital leaders building brands to better connect with consumers & communities. isn’t life about personal connections & your experiences along the way? in this digital age – as we are more connected to our devices it’s extremely important to remember to still connect with each other AND to know when to disconnect! Arianna Huffington, President of the Huffington Post Media Group, shared her thoughts that “self-expression is the new entertainment” – story telling leads to engagement & connection. She stated that Drew Patterson’s company, Jetsetter.com, is onto something big with this idea – gaining trust through expert travel story telling leading consumers to purchase trips online.  i agree – talk about connecting us to the world by day dreaming vacations – if you’re not a member of Jetsetter – become one TODAY!! and if you do purchase a trip through them your end result will be to DISCONNECT, unplug and recharge by using personal travel as a way to connect with yourself, your vacation companions & the locals in the destinations you visit! HUGE fan of this.

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April 25, 2011 · 9:00 pm

Early May – NOLA…heading to the Big Easy

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throw me some beads, mister!

TO DO LIST – again, probably overly aggressive but here it goes:

1) hob knob with important people at the compete dCMO summit 2011 – i’m especially excited to hear what arianna huffington, editor-in-chief of huffington post, drew patterson, CEO of jetsetter.com & shane steele, VP marketing of twitter have to say about digital innovation

2) eat some completely authentic n’awlins food – beignets at cafe du monde, muffaletta from napoleon house  & a spicy bloody mary on bourbon street – ya know the kind they put okra in – YUMMY

3) fortune told in jackson square & visit a voodoo shop (perhaps historic NO voodoo museum) to prick a doll or two – better hope you’re on my good side

4) lafitte’s blacksmith shop & bar which is the oldest bar in the US plus they say it serves the best hurricane in town…we’ll see. a cocktail at the columns just because the porch has great atmosphere

5) old new orleans rum distillery – i love rum! plus, i hear frenchman street (where the distillery is located) is THE place for music

6) neville brothers show at tipitina’s & JAZZ FEST friday – hello Arcade Fire!

AND..catch some beads, baby – LAISSEZ LE BON TEMP ROULER – let the good times roll!!!

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April 3, 2011 · 7:59 pm

Early April – on the road again – Curacao, former Netherlands Antilles

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get ready curacao...cant wait to meet your melting pot!

ok – formulating plans. i’m staying at the hyatt which is swanky and new. i discovered this property though jetsetter.com so i’m confident it is nice. i booked it through cheapcaribbean.com, however, because jetsetter’s flash sale was long over and i got a good package deal – flight, room, airport shuttle transfer.

so far it sounds like i should visit the curacao liqueur distillery, museum kura hulanda, just stroll around willemstad in general, watch the floating pontoon queen emma bridge, eat at a landhuis (possibly landhuis daniel) and go to mambo beach bar. i’m also looking forward to checking out bamali – a women’s fashion store where the local owners design everything. oh and, of course, the obvious going snorkeling, sunning on various beaches & seeking out the night life scene! cannot wait to explore, discover and make new friends while visiting my little and only sister. i’m so lucky!

**travel tips article for visiting curacao

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March 7, 2011 · 12:55 am

Late February – Las Vegas, Nevada

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view from mix restaurant at the top of THE Hotel in Mandalay Bay

triple X & the city of excess!

things that come to mind…gambling, high rollers, strippers, clubs, VIPs, racey & sexy, Elvis & Frank

Las Vegas – Sin City!  the hotels, the restaurants, the clubs, the pools, the gambling, the shopping, the shows – where to start AND end – it’s all over the top!  find a hotel deal and stay in a great place.  check out other properties by eating in different restaurants within those other properties…so much to see! you may not need to even pay for entertainment.  walk through the Wynn and catch their version of Glee Club or take a stroll down the strip and you might catch the pirate show at Treasure Island – a personal fave of mine…ARGH! there’s great shopping everywhere and some deals to be had…but, let’s be honest – if you’re a winner – who cares! Bring on the MANOLO BLAHNIKS!!!

next time…indoor skydiving!

just in from jetsetter.com – 10 unexpected things to do in vegas…check it out!

and still more info from jetsetter.com – 33 days in vegas – more insight on hotels and adventures!

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