Traveling with the Jones — Sharing Travel Discoveries

A Peek Inside the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel

by Janis on April 28, 2014

During a quick weekend trip to Vegas, we spent Sunday night at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel.

We chose this hotel to stay near friends who were at the Wynn, while using our annual free night from the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card.This hotel was a great choice. Just two blocks from The Strip, we loved this sleek, non-smoking, non-gaming hotel. The lights behind the check-in change colors frequently.

Thanks to Mr. Jones’ Platinum status with Marriott, and a terrific staffer at the front desk, we were given Room 832 when our previously assigned room wasn’t ready.

Room 832 is right by the elevator – usually not a good location. We were shocked when we opened the door to this….mural.

Here’s a full panoramic view of the dramatic sitting room in Suite 838. There’s a guest bathroom just as you enter the room.

We opened the curtains, and waved across the golf course to our friends at the Wynn.

One more look; we felt like we should be throwing a party.

In the bedroom, we found a very comfy bed, with smooth, cool-to-the-touch fine cotton sheets.

A nice armoire for clothes, flat screen tv and desk with a sleek chair for cranking out a little work.

Here’s the view out of the bedroom window. The Renaissance Las Vegas is near the Convention Center and the Monorail runs right by the front of the hotel.

There are nice little design touches throughout the room.

Notice the image in the headboard.

The bathroom tub is deep and luxurious.

Plus, a glass shower and toilet in a separate room.

The open lobby has lots of comfortable space to hang out, and a terrific bar/restaurant called Grill 55. We enjoyed a late lunch of small plates at the bar after check-in.

This is the pool/outdoor area, which we did not use but seemed a little small.

Our Bottom Line on the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel:

We loved this hotel and would stay again for business or for fun.
It’s a terrific location near the Strip, but away from all of the crowds and craziness.
We appreciated that it is non-smoking and ding, ding, ding-casino free.
The staffing – from the front desk to the bar to the front door – is terrific.
Suite 832 is spectacular! We’d never have expected this kind of an upgrade on a free award night.
The pool might be a little small, if that is important to your stay.

What’s your favorite hotel in Las Vegas? Do you stay for business or for fun? Please share your thoughts in comments below.

For a look inside more hotel rooms, check out these posts”;.

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook

{ 1 comment }

Exploring the Sights of Cochin, India

by Janis on April 27, 2014

We sailed into Cochin, India a major port city on the Arabian Sea, via the Seabourn Sojourn, on its 2014 World Cruise.

While we had done a little advance research on Cochin, we decided to take the Seabourn shore excursion to “Old Cochin” since the port area is on an island a distance from the mainland.

Cochin, also known as Kochi, has been important spice trading center, connecting mainland India to the rest of the world since the 14th Century.

Cochin has been ruled by numerous empires with the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese all impacting its history and development. Today the city is an interesting mix of old and new.

On the day of our visit, the Prime Minister of India was visiting for a political rally in preparation for India’s elections.

Cochin was the first of the European colony India when it was occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503. The Portuguese built Catholic churches and schools, many of which are still in place today. This is St. Sebastian’s Church.

Our tour visited St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by Europeans in India. Portuguese trader Vasco da Gama, who died in Cochin, was buried here, but his remains were later taken back to Portugal.

The coast between Fort Kochi and Vypeen is covered with fishermen earning their livelihood by fishing with giant nets called Cheenavala.

Outside of China, these massive fishing nets are only found in Cochin, and are believed to have been introduced to the port city by Chinese traders under the court of Kublai Khan.

The daily catch is available for purchase nearby.

Next on our tour we visited the Dutch Palace Mattancherry museum and then Jew Town. The Spice Market is in this historic area.

Ninety percent of all of the pepper that India produces is traded through the International Pepper Exchange at Kochi.

Spices are sold everywhere along these streets.

The Spice Market is a women’s cooperative.

Inside there are spices of every kind for sale, as well as numerous handmade goods.

A woman demonstrates weaving.

Signs for the upcoming election were prevalent through the city. We learned that India will have 100 million MORE voters in this election than in the last one in 2009!

Wood is a major export for the port of Kochi. It’s interesting how the hauling trucks are always brightly decorated.

Have you visited Cochin, India? What was your favorite site? Please share in comments below.

Check out these other posts about our adventures cruising on the Seabourn Sojourn“;.

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook

{ 2 comments }

7 Favorite “Naughty” Pleasures on the Seabourn Sojourn

by Janis on April 24, 2014

We were sitting in the cafe at the National Museum in Colombo, Sri Lanka when one of the local tour guides sat down beside us, giggled, and said, “I’m so naughty!” with unabashed glee.

The guide was enjoying a coffee with a huge pile of cold whipped cream on top of the espresso shot.

The humorous moment stayed with us through the rest of our 11-day cruise to Mumbai, India, a segment of the 2014 World Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn.

We were continuously reminded of the tour guide and his definition of “I’m so naughty!”, and found ourselves enjoying similar “Naughty” food and drink pleasures while on board the Sojourn.

1. Grandma’s Cake

Served at the Seabourn Square Coffee Bar each morning, this sweet treat is highly addictive. Its lemon and coconut flavored with a ribbon of rich brown sugar nut streusel running through each slice. We learned from other guests to order a piece “to go” which was wrapped for take-away and made an excellent late-morning snack.

2. French Fries at the Patio Grill

Served at the outdoor casual restaurant with burgers, hot dogs and other grilled sandwiches, these fries are covered with some kind of coating (Parmesan cheese perhaps?) that makes them highly addictive. Don’t try even one fry if you don’t want to be hooked.

3. Claudia’s Mudslide “Milkshake” at the Patio Bar

While you are trying to forgo those French fries, you might want to try a mudslide at the Patio Bar. The combination of Kahlua coffee liquor, Bailey’s Irish cream, vodka and ice is the perfect way to cool off during a hot afternoon by the pool.

Bartender Claudia makes her mudslides extra special with a few scoops of ice cream added in. The ultimate “naughty” drink.

4. The Lemon Drop Martini at the Club

Ice cold, not-to-sweet, and custom-made to your preferences, the lemon drop or any martini at the Club or the Observation Bar is the perfect start to pre-dinner cocktails.

5. Breadsticks in the Restaurant

We don’t have a photo of these – they disappeared too quickly off our table during lunch or dinner in the dining room. They are delicious delights – even when we learned they contain about 100 calories per stick.
This new video from Seabourn will show you everything that goes into making these delicious sticks.

6. Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne

Nicolas Feuillatte is the house champagne on Seabourn and it flows freely throughout the ship – in the bars, in the restaurants, in your suite, and even in the pool during the “Caviar in the Surf” event.

Here the captain is toasting all of the guests who jumped in or watched from the sidelines.

7. Caviar

Whether you enjoy your caviar in the surf, or in your suite as a pre-dinner appetizer, caviar and all of its accompaniments are available 24 hours a day from room service on the Seabourn Sojourn. Caviar is also a frequent ingredient in appetizers served in the Restaurant.

All of these “naughty” treats are just a part of all the little things that make a Seabourn cruise a magical, memorable vacation experience.

What’s your favorite “naughty pleasure” on Seabourn? Please, do share in the comments below.

Check out these other posts about our adventures cruising on the Seabourn Sojourn:

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook

{ 5 comments }

Experiencing the Life and Lore of Colombo, Sri Lanka

by Janis on April 22, 2014

We visited Colombo, Sri Lanka on a port call during an 11-day cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn from Singapore to Mumbai, India.

While we had done a little advance research on Colombo, we decided to take a 4.5 hour long shore excursion called the “Life and Lore of Colombo” before exploring on our own.

Colombo is a fascinating mix of old and new. We drove by Viharamahadevi Park, which was originally created by the British as a botanical garden.

We made a quick stop at the Independence Memorial Hall built to celebrate Ceylon independence from the British on Feb 4, 1948. Ceylon was renamed to Sri Lanka.

The sculptures around Independence Memorial have interesting details..

These school boys posed at the Independence Memorial. The Friday of our visit was designated as a day for school trips, and there were friendly uniformed school children every where we toured.

Next we headed to the National Museum, the largest museum in Sri Lanka known for its Hindu and Buddhist bronzes as well as regalia of the King of Kandy. The grounds are shaded by magnificent banyan trees.

The museum’s collections are diverse – from Buddha heads …

to a depiction of human evolution.

Driving through the city, one sees the contrast of old and new. High rise buildings are going up at a fast pace.

Our next stop was at the beautiful Taj Samudra hotel, where we stopped for refreshments in the top floor ballroom looking over the historic Galle Face Green and the Indian Ocean. The famous Galle Face hotel – seen in the distance – is undergoing renovation.