hotel

Ground Breaks for New York City’s Virgin Hotel VOA begins construction on the 412,000-square-foot Virgin Hotel in NoMad The VOA-designed Virgin Hotel will be located on Broadway between 30th and 29th Streets. Last Friday, ground broke in Manhattan for the world’s second Virgin Hotel. Designed by the New York–based architecture firm VOA, in collaboration with developer the Lam Group, the 412,000-square-foot tower will contain 465 guest rooms and offer roughly 70,000 square feet of retail space at its base. With a slim façade that grows larger through sections that jut out from its sides, the 39-story building will bring a flash of modernity to the historic NoMad neighborhood. “Where the building appears to be shifting to the sides, we deducted some bulk out of the corners of the structure so we could reuse the floor area higher up,” says Brian McFarland, VOA’s lead architect on the project. “This allowed us the opportunity to create more corner windows at a higher elevation so those rooms could enjoy views the lower rooms wouldn’t allow.” Virgin Hotel in NoMad Virgin Hotels, a division of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, plans to roll out hotels of distinct designs in various cities around the world, and as such, “the Virgin Hotel ...

ENTER TO WIN A TRIP!  An all-expense paid trip to the Fabulous Food show in Cleveland, OH! Got a funny travel video or photo on hand?  Submit it and you could win a trip to the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland, Ohio, courtesy of Orbitz, A Fork On The Road and the Fabulous Food Show. Here’s how to enter: 1. Follow @MarkDeCarlo on Twitter and @MarkDeCarloTV on Instagram. 2. Tweet @MarkDeCarlo on Twitter and @MarkDeCarloTV on Instagram your funny travel photo or video (max 30 seconds in length)  both with #AFOTR to qualify to win. Photo or video with the most likes and retweets will win the trip! 3. Enter as many photos and videos as you like with #AFOTR.  All contest entries are due by 11:59pm on Friday, November 6, 2015. Winner will be notified on November 7, 2015, for travel to Cleveland the following weekend. Must be eighteen (18) or older to win. Restrictions apply. SHARE with THIS LINK! [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/users/41358123" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING PUERTO RICO THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND OTHER COMMONWEALTHS, TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), 13 YEARS OR OLDER. 1. By entering this CONTEST (the "Contest") and accepting the terms herein, ...

While visiting the marvelous and glittering Los Angeles, there are also places where all the hustle and buzz of the city can almost be damped by the soothing waves of the Pacific Ocean. One of the best areas to settle down and enjoy the charm of Los Angeles is Santa Monica, a beachfront area in the western part of the city. To truly experience Santa Monica, one of the best accommodation options presents itself under the name of Le Meridien Delfina Hotel, a trademark of luxury and elegance in Santa Monica, California. Located close to the ocean and near some of the most exciting attractions in the area, including the Santa Monica Pier, Getty Museum and Venice Beach, this hotel is a perfect choice for people who are looking for excellent services and a charming atmosphere.  Mark and I were happy to find this boutique gem over a weekend of lazy getaway from ourselves. Among the wonderful amenities and services available in this exclusive Santa Monica hotel, the spacious and pleasantly furnished rooms, the famous restaurants, the heated swimming pool, the valet parking options, the fitness room and the business facilities are just some of the exquisite features of Le Meridien Delfina… ...

Had fun storming a castle lately? On the way to Temecula’s wine country, many roads lead to wine, but only one leads to The Castle Estate. Every detail there is designed to keep you in a past reality of castles, kings and, of course, Queens.  From the gigantic medieval iron locks that guard your room and the mural on the stairs depicting part of it’s own family history, to the most minute detail of a delightful butterfly garden right outside your bedroom door, this castle has proven to be a diva’s favorite. If you happen to endure LA traffic, a night arrival is breathtaking, as the castle lights glow to guide the way.  Past the helicopter pad out front, you’ll be greeted by the sounds of a huge front door knocker, and welcomed by dimly lit candelabra and a smile from the castle’s proprietors, Joanne and Dee. How does waking up at The Castle sound? “Ding, ding, ding!” A soft “Good morning!”   a bell ring in the morning light shining through the hand-painted stained glass windows onto the luxurious medieval bed linens, and the chain link armor guard standing by. Thankfully, you’ll still have time to enjoy the feeling of waking up in a ...

By Isabella Martiner Barcelona has it all:  beautiful architecture, high energy night life that be can as late, or as early as you want, outstanding restaurants, vineyards, and, of course, the ocean.  Interested in a non-traditional tourist experience with a personal touch?  Stay in style by the beach in Barcelona, walk to all the historic sites and city center within minutes at very affordable prices. At the Apartamentos Barceloneta - Banys De Mar , a family run apartment rentals,  you will find delightful apartments that will give you a real sense of history in what was once the fishing village of Barcelona. Tastefully decorated with a rustic feel and modern amenities, these studio and one-bedroom apartments with balconies are perfect for various periods from a few days to a few months.  Not to mention, they are much cheaper then a hotel with all the conveniences of a fully furnished apartment.   You’ll be close enough to all the city has to offer while still being able to relax in this one-of-a-kind place. All the apartments come with clean fresh linens and linen service is free of charge.  Calle Sant Miquel, where the building is located, is a traditional, colorful street in the Barceloneta, the ...

Looking for a great place to spend New Year' Eve?  Head down to the beach in Santa Monica, California and ring in the new year at the luxurious Viceroy Hotel.  Traveling Diva and friends were lucky enough to be invited to this exclusive event and we were thrilled to be there.  Once a year the Viceroy goes all out and treats their guests to a NYE celebration worthy of royalty. The incredible food ranged from delicious to outrageous as tray after tray was brought out to a sea of eager foodies.  The sushi was fresh, the champagne 'bubble-licious!'  This Diva barely had a chance to take pictures as the waiters kept filling our glasses.  Of course, we simply smiled and said, 'Yes, please!' As the music moved on, we looked out on the dance floor to the sea of sexy singles and not-so-singles grooving to the enticing rhythms.  In a flash, we realized, this is where they meet! The sexy single girl and the elusive great guy she'd been looking for.  Don't bother looking on the internet.  Forget about those  excruciating blind dates.  The sexy people of LA know where to go mingle on such an important day.  No matter where you ...