While we were staying in Virginia Beach we stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites Oceanfront hotel.  This hotel is located 2015 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach. All of the rooms have an ocean front view.  If you are staying at the Comfort Inn and Suites during off peak months or during the summer this hotel and location has something for everyone in your family. Because this is an oceanfront hotel you are steps away from the beach and boardwalk.

Arrival

I have to say Virginia Beach has the most pleasant hospitality staff around.  No matter where we went everyone was so nice and courteous.  This started the second we arrived at Comfort Inn and Suites Oceanfront hotel.  We were greeted by friendly staff, they gave us great suggestions on where to get a bite to eat after our long car ride.  Our check in was very quick and no hassles.


The Room




We had a room on the 6th floor, very easy to get to from the parking garage and the lobby elevators.  I loved the the room because it had two separate bedrooms.  This is perfect for families because everyone doesn't have to go to bed at 8:00 when the kids go to bed.  I also like the small refrigerator, sink and microwave that are in the room.  Perfect to make a small snack when coming back from a day at the beach.

The bathroom was roomy and had a plenty of counter space for everyone's essentials.  My kids loved the dual shower heads in the shower.


The view from our room was absolutely gorgeous. I loved watching the sunrise each morning, it was so peaceful.  The room also had a small balcony so you can have a front row seat to watch the beach and ocean.

Complimentary Hot Breakfast

A great way to save money on a family vacation is to find a hotel that offers a complimentary breakfast for their guest.  My family and I loved that the breakfast had many choices.  Waffles, eggs, cereal fresh fruit, muffins, danish and much more.  This was a great way for us to start our day off.  The dinning area faces the ocean and boardwalk so you have a gorgeous view while eating your breakfast.

Indoor Pool



The hotel has an indoor heated pool for guests to use.  This also faces the ocean so you can still see the beach on rainy days.


Other Hotel Features
Free Wi-Fi
Exercise Room
Business Center
Indoor Parking

Location:   2015 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, VA, US, 23451





Note: Thanks to the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau for arranging for our stay at the Comfort Suites and for helping with our travel expenses. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Over Thanksgiving break I had a chance to visit the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center.  The hotel in located in National Harbor Maryland right outside of Washington DC.  The Gaylord National is an absolute gorgeous hotel with all the glitz and glamour of the DC's best hotels.  As soon as you pull up to the hotel you are treated as if you are royalty.  All the employees smile and make conversation with you and they are always willing to help with whatever you need.

I loved that the lobby was decorated for the holidays and it instantly got me in the Christmas spirit. The check-in process was easy and the staff at the front desk was super friendly.  After check in we went to check out our room which was stunning and the balcony had the perfect view of the atrium.  If you can afford to pay a little extra for an atrium view I suggest doing it.  The atrium view rooms are perfect for watching the nightly holiday shows from the comfort of your own room.  One of the nice touches I appreciated was the nightly turn down service.  The room was very comfortable and so was the bed.

My kids loved the glass elevators which make the ride down to the lobby or atrium a fun one.  The views of the Potomac from different areas of the hotel are spectacular. You can walk out of the hotel to the river walk.

If the weather is frightful during you stay at the Gaylord National no worries.  You can stay in the hotel, the atrium has a few shops in it and there are also 3 restaurants.  There is even a bakery to get coffee or an afternoon treat.  The very large indoor pool is one of the best in the area to swim in, no matter how cold it is outside. 




Here is a video of an atrium view suite. 


 
For more information:  www.gaylordhotels.com

Home Depot is having a FREE workshop this Saturday, February 5th, 2011 from 9am to noon at all Home Depot stores. They are geared towards children age 5-12, but the younger children will likely need some help from you.


The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.

In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

* Find Your Local Store

For more information: www.homedepot.com


This event is appropriate for ages 3 and older

Cost:free

Recently, my family and I traveled to Washington DC to visit the sights and we stayed in the Aloft hotel in National Harbor Maryland, which is about 20 minutes outside DC. When we arrived at the hotel and walked in we were a little confused but quickly realized that you had to take the elevator to the second floor to check in. We were warmly greeted by the Aloft staff saying Aloha. After a quick check in we took the elevators to our room. My youngest noticed the floor of the elevator changed colors when you stepped on it. This entertained them every time we were in the elevator. Our room was very clean and roomy for a family of 4. Aloft hotels is a new high-design/low-cost brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The hotel and rooms are designed with natural materials and textures like cork and wood, with loft-inspired, 9 foot high guest rooms, state-of-the-art technology, modern amenities, and signature “r & r” beds.

The pool area was nice and easy to get to from our room. It was very open and airy. The pool is not open all day it opens for a few hours in the morning and then a few hours at night. There is a lifeguard on duty and towels are provided (one less thing to pack).

They also have an outdoor area that has a fire pit to keep you warm on the cold nights. This also allows you to look out at the Harbor Area too.

Overall the hotel is very family friendly. There were quite a few families that were there the same time we were. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Below is a video of the Aloft hotel:





We were given a free upgrade on our room during our visit. The review is our honest opinion and true experience.