Diaries of a Hotel Girl

Westin Anaheim

The Westin Anaheim is a luxurious hotel right in the Disneyland area. Close the parks, Downtown Disney and the convention center, it is a convenient location for whatever travel reasons bring you to Disneyland. you may not think of this as kid friendly but I assure you it most definitely. As soon as we arrived they greeted us with coloring activities and a scavenger hunt for the kids. They even rewarded both kids with an adorable bear plushy for completing the scavenger hunt!

This hotel has a wide array of amenities to offer. From the glamorous lobby entrance, beautiful swimming pool surrounded by lush trees, and luxurious fitness center you will feel pampered following your busy day at the parks. We stayed in a park view room this time with club access which was completely worth it! Easy and yummy I would add breakfast was served each morning and this included self made espresso bar which was so helpful before hitting the parks for rope drop at 6:30am. It also had a full buffet still happy hour with tons of appetizer options and complimentary wine.

It is in the heart of Disneyland Parks area with only a 20 minute walk to Maingate. The best part is it is bookable through a Disneyland package!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney absolutely takes this hotel experience to the next level! From the moment you walk into the door to the lobby you feel as if you have stepped into a new place. In every corner of this resort you can find cultural aspects. The attention to detail is uncanny. We were fortunate to stay in a Savannah view room and had giraffes and zebras out our balcony every morning when waking and night when returning from the parks.

The hotel also boast quite a selection of amenities including a giant pool with a perfect water slide, a fitness center, arcade, playground, quick service eatery with coffee bar, a swanky bar for snacks and drinks and 2 sit down restaurants. If you have kids who love animals as much as mine do I would say to 100% stay at this hotel at least once. My kids hands down told me it was the best place they have ever stayed!

Four Seasons Las Vegas

I plan to write an upcoming blog post about this but do not ever miss an opportunity to stay at a Four Season Hotel. The level of service is unmatched. Everything you can think of is taken care of. The Las Vegas Four Seasons is a very unique experience. It is housed within the Mandalay Bay Resort but has it's own entrance, lobby and amenities. While you get access to of the Mandalay Bay water park, it also has it's own personal more relaxing pool. Poolside you continuously brought fresh pitchers of ice water, towels and even sunscreen.

The fitness center also has its own steam room and sauna within the locker rooms and a spa is available for message and facial services. By staying at this hotel you can choose how much of the Vega action you want to be apart of. It is the perfect Las Vegas hotel choice for families as there is no casino directly in the lobby so you won't have your kids wading through the smoke or the chaos but you can also access all of the casino restaurants and facilities if you choose. It truly is the best of both worlds.

Vespera Pismo Beach

This is a hidden gem right on the beach in the small Central California town of Pismo. Pismo Beach is a great town for a family getaway. The long stretch of sandy beach provides ample space for large families to have a picnic, build sand castles and dip their toes in the waves. The Vespera, which is a Marriott autograph collection resort sits right along the boardwalk and has a great beach side pool and hot tub. The best part is the lawn that faces the ocean and has numerous large fire pits and lawn games for the kids.

The restaurant serves up upscale Mexican restaurant which is perfect cuisine for the ambiance. Once you arrive at the Vespera, everything is within walking distance. You can head out along the boardwalk and find numerous eateries, coffee shops, pubs and even a playground for the kids. There is even a bowling alley and arcade close by. During our stay we made friends with a family with similar age kids and spent the evening enjoying a glass of wine by fireside and watching the kids play bean bag toss and life size connect four. I highly recommend trying this little beach town and enchanting hotel.

Waikiki Sheraton

This has become a family favorite of ours. Located right in the heart Waikiki Beach, a stay here will put you right in the action of everything that Waikiki has to offer. This hotel has the best pool or I should say pools on Waikiki Beach. There is a family fun pool surrounded by palm trees and lava rocks and has a great water slide for kids and adults. Then there is an adult only infinity pool that looks over the ocean and makes you feel as if you are going to calmly float out to sea. Waikiki Beach is a great beach for kids. There a enough waves to make for some fun bouncing and even sometimes body surfing but its not to rough either. Waikiki is also known for its surfing which is the biggest draw for our family. This way my husband can rent a board on the beach or down the street at a local shop and catch some early morning waves.

Some reviews have likened this hotel to a "concrete jungle" that lacks any essence of Hawaii but I completely beg to differ. With oversized rocking chairs facing a koi pond and the smell of the beach breezing through the lobby you will not forget that you are on a tropical island. The oceanfront rooms at the Sheraton have in my opinion one of the top 5 views I have ever seen. Sitting on the lanai you will look directly out to the turquoise blue waves and some rooms even have an amazing view of diamond head. It is absolutely breathtaking! Take out and a premixed mai tai from the ABC market can make for a perfect evening and save money.

It is also an easy vacation to take with kids as you really don't need a car unless you plan to roam the island and sight see. Even if this is part of your plan there is a car rental desk right in the lobby. For our stay we took a shuttle from the airport that even provided car seats. We did bring a stroller and were able to walk to all of the places we wanted to see including the zoo. There are also so many great restaurant choices to try close by and you really can find any and all cuisine you can think of. When we want to take a shorter trip to Hawaii this is our ideal spot.

Napili Kai

This beachfront hotel is quite unique from what is typically thought of in Maui. Napili Kai is located on the north end of Napili Bay. It is an older resort and because of that, it is one of the only resorts with beachfront rooms. If you are lucky enough to get particular rooms, you can see and hear the waves crashing onto the beach. Sitting on the lanai is as if you are right on the beach. This resort offers a few different room layouts. For families there is a great option with a one bedroom suite. In the bedroom is 2 twin beds. In the main room there is a king size bed and a sofa. There is also a kitchen with a full size refrigerator, cooking stove top, microwave and dishwashers in some. This was a perfect set up for our family so the kids could have the back bedroom where it was quiet and away from the balcony. My kids were super excited about the twin beds side by side and slept great.

Beachside there is also a heated pool and hot tub. The resort offers coffee in the morning on the beach and a few meet and greet events throughout the week. There is also a putt putt course in the middle of the grounds that kids and adults can try. Although this is an older resort and you won't find the grandiose atmosphere of other Maui resorts, it is a great place if you want to feel like you are staying in old Hawaii and away from the tourist hustle and bustle of other parts of Maui. There are several beautiful beaches close by and great a hiking/walking path that will take you along the coast for miles. Napili Bay can be a great beach for kids depending on the day and time of year however, I will provide a word of caution and recommend to put kids of all ages and swimming abilities in a life vest as the water looks more inviting then it is. All in all, for a unique experience on the island of Maui I would definitely give this resort a try.