Hotel Alameda Palace, Salamanca Spain

I booked this lovely hotel a few days in advance. It was my first time in Salamanca. The photos online looked beautiful, and I must say, we were not disappointed. The lobby and the hallways give one the feeling of being in an exclusive, much more high-priced hotel. The bathroom in the room was my favorite feature of the room. However, the shower was actually too high tech for my friend and me. We felt like we needed instructions on how to operate it. Another minor annoyance was that the light in the bathroom would randomly turn off while I was in it. http://www.hotelalamedapalace.com/

The hotel was easy to find. It was a 3 minute walk from the train station, and I believe we only had to make one turn.

Front of the hotel. I had a terrible cold, but tried to push through and enjoy the beautiful city.

Experience of a Lifetime!

Yesterday, my sister-in-law and I zipped the gulf. I can't WAIT to do it again! Our guides, Pat and Edward were funny, warm, but serious enough about safety that I never once felt insecure. There was a little boy, about 12 who cried hysterically on the first zip, and didn't want to continue. By the end of the trip, he was laughing, smiling, and talking about how "cool" it was to zip. It takes about a half hour of getting on your gear, listening to the safety rules, and there's a small line on which you have the opportunity to learn how to brake. Make sure to get your "I survived the Hummingbird Zipline" t-shirt in the gift shop afterwards.http://www.gulfadventurecenter.com/hummingbird-ziplines/

Coastal Waters Inn, New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Two thumbs up! I had to temporarily move out of my house, due to mold issues. Funny, I'd been wanting a mini vacation on the beach all summer. Coastal Waters was the only small hotel in the area, that actually answered their phone, otherwise, I would have stayed elsewhere. I'm glad they did. For value, location and convenience, I rate this hotel very highly. The staff was friendly, except for the one time I locked myself out of the room. The on call person was clearly put out. Also, there was no maid service my last day there. I attribute that to the fact that I kept changing my mind about staying. I originally was going to stay one night. I ended up staying 4. I'm told I'll have to move out during remodeling. I WILL, be going back to Coastal Waters Inn.: September 2011, traveled solo