« December 2006 | Main | February 2007 »

January 29, 2007

Reception Hall Update

While we were driving to Holyoke, we heard back from Mr. Biggs. Everything they told us while on the phone contradicted what we had been told before. Apparently now we cannot bring in our own caterer; we have to use theirs. Their rates have gone up dramatically, and they basically told us they could take or leave our business. We aren't really in the mood to buy bad food and bad business for those whom we invite to our wedding, so Mr. Biggs is now out of the running. Next up???????

January 25, 2007

Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. Las Vegas, Nevada

Stratosphere Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

When Jonathan and I decided to travel to Las Vegas, again, we decided that since there are so many different options for places to stay, we would try someplace new. We decided on the Stratosphere. We knew going into it that it was pretty far away from everything else on the strip, but we weren’t afraid of walking. The Stratosphere is also really close to the Sahara Monorail stop, so we knew we could always use that if our feet got tired. Our room was on the third floor, and we overlooked the employee entrance. Right outside our window were some of the lights that illuminate the building at night, and it was kind of hard to shut those out at night. The bed was nothing spectacular, but it wasn’t horrible either. It was pretty middle of the road. The bathroom, however, was super tiny. To close the door, we had to stand between the bathtub and the toilet. Also, the way the toilet flushed was pretty scary. You had to close the lid and step back before flushing for fear of being sucked down with it. While, the room itself was not so great, it was pretty good for the money we spent. We probably won’t stay here again, but that’s because it’s always nice to stay someplace new. We would recommend the hotel to those who are not traveling with young kids, and aren’t afraid of a bit of a walk everyday.

Overall Rating: 68 out of 135

Click here to see pictures of our room at the Stratosphere.

Have you stayed at The Stratosphere in Las Vegas, Nevada? If so, leave a comment and share your review with us.

January 15, 2007

Vino Bello Resort, Napa, California

There are a plethora of choices when looking for a place to stay in wine country California. Choices range from several bed and breakfast places, traditional hotels, and even condos. When we were traveling there, my sister and I decided to opt for the condo option, after much debate. We decided to give Vino Bello Resort a try. Boy, are we glad we did. We stayed in a studio, because that is what they had available at the time. They also offer one bedroom and two bedroom condos. Each condo included it’s own washer and dryer, fridge, microwave, toaster oven, and stovetop. The room also came with a complementary bottle of wine, and we received daily replenishments of soda and bottled water. The room had a plasma TV offering several channels to choose from, including the Food Network, and several movie channels. But, one of the best parts of all, was the bathroom. It had a giant soaking tub and shower. It was beautiful. The bed had feather pillows (a major plus!), and was super comfortable. To be honest, this is probably my all time favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed in!

Overall Rating: 117 out of 135

click here to see pictures! Vino Bello Resort, Napa, California.

Have you stayed at the Vino Bello Resort in Napa, California? Please leave us a comment with your review!

January 14, 2007

The Heat is On: Caterer Search

Well, even without a reception location we thought we might as well start hunting for a caterer. After looking through pricing and other information for several caterers, we're a bit concerned. Right now our thoughts are that we'll go with Bennett's BBQ or Qdoba. They are far better price wise than any "real" caterer we've looked at. And, their food is better. We'll see...